Iyad Allawi has said he believes the elections have not been fair,and Nouri Maliki believes he has a strong lead
Iraq Voters Give Politicians Another Chance -- BBC
Nouri Maliki has the incumbent's advantage, with the full weight of the state media and the and the government machinery at his disposal.
So it would have been surprising if he was not well ahead in his bid for a second term, after these early results.
But the job is not yet in his grip.
Boosted by his early lead in key provinces like Baghdad and Basra, he has started courting potential allies to form a new coalition government.
He has plenty of enemies though, and some parties will be keen to unseat him.
Read more ....
More News On Iraq's Elections
Frustration Grows in Iraq at Slow Pace of Vote Tally -- New York Times
A week on, Maliki pulls ahead in Iraq race -- Reuters
Iraqi PM holds slim lead in partial election tally -- AP
Iraq's Maliki Maintains Election Lead -- Wall Street Journal
Iraqi Poll Results Show Iraqi PM Leading in Oil-Rich Basra -- Voice of America
Prime minister's alliance leading after Iraq election -- CNN
A week on, Maliki pulls ahead in Iraq race -- Reuters
Iraq PM extends lead in vote count -- AFP
PM Maliki leads poll count in key Baghdad constituency -- BBC
Iraq's Nouri al-Maliki already wooing allies to try to form governing coalition -- Washington Post
FACTBOX - Five facts about Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki -- Reuters
FACTBOX - Five facts about Iraq's Iyad Allawi -- Reuters
UN sees no indication of widespread fraud in Iraq election -- Christian Science Monitor
Election monitors’ report increases doubts over fairness of Iraq election -- Times Online
Iraq vote signals shift from hard-line leaders -- Washington Times
Prime minister's alliance leading after Iraq election -- CNN
A week on, Maliki pulls ahead in Iraq race -- Reuters
Iraq PM extends lead in vote count -- AFP
PM Maliki leads poll count in key Baghdad constituency -- BBC
Iraq's Nouri al-Maliki already wooing allies to try to form governing coalition -- Washington Post
FACTBOX - Five facts about Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki -- Reuters
FACTBOX - Five facts about Iraq's Iyad Allawi -- Reuters
UN sees no indication of widespread fraud in Iraq election -- Christian Science Monitor
Election monitors’ report increases doubts over fairness of Iraq election -- Times Online
Iraq vote signals shift from hard-line leaders -- Washington Times
Iraq's Arab neighbors wary of Shi'ite sway after vote -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Power lines take shape in Iraq -- Asia Times
Issue of Presidency Endangers Iraq’s Tenuous Balance -- New York Times
Election puts Iraq's future decidedly in Iraqi hands -- Washington Post
ANALYSIS - Iraq's Maliki risks Sunni ire if he shuns Allawi -- Reuters
A week on, Maliki pulls ahead in Iraq race -- Reuters
Iraq PM extends lead in vote count -- AFP
PM Maliki leads poll count in key Baghdad constituency -- BBC
Iraq's Nouri al-Maliki already wooing allies to try to form governing coalition -- Washington Post
FACTBOX - Five facts about Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki -- Reuters
FACTBOX - Five facts about Iraq's Iyad Allawi -- Reuters
UN sees no indication of widespread fraud in Iraq election -- Christian Science Monitor
Election monitors’ report increases doubts over fairness of Iraq election -- Times Online
Iraq vote signals shift from hard-line leaders -- Washington Times
Iraq's Arab neighbors wary of Shi'ite sway after vote -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Power lines take shape in Iraq -- Asia Times
Issue of Presidency Endangers Iraq’s Tenuous Balance -- New York Times
Election puts Iraq's future decidedly in Iraqi hands -- Washington Post
ANALYSIS - Iraq's Maliki risks Sunni ire if he shuns Allawi -- Reuters