Maliki leads vote count in two mainly Shiite provinces

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Initial results from Iraq's election released on Thursday put Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's bloc ahead in two predominantly Shiite provinces.

Iraqi electoral officials count votes at the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) headquarters in Baghdad (© AFP - Ahmad al-Rubaye)

The figures, which were announced once 30 percent of votes had been counted in the southern provinces of Najaf and Babil, put the Iraqi National Alliance (INA), a coalition led by Shiite religious groups, in second place.

The secular Iraqiya alliance of Shiite ex-premier Iyad Allawi was in third place.

Maliki's State of Law Alliance held a lead of around 7,000 votes in Najaf and of 14,000 in Babil, the figures showed.

Complete results are expected to be announced on March 18 and the final ones -- after any appeals are dealt with -- will come at the end of the month.

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Maliki, a Shiite who helped ease the country's deadly sectarian strife, has emerged as the front-runner to retain his post.

But he could face a tough battle after the vote, which saw millions defy bomb, mortar and rocket attacks, which killed 38 people, to cast their ballots.

While the State of Law Alliance was ahead in Shiite regions, Allawi led in Sunni areas, according to estimates obtained by AFP from officials.