Early results released in Baghdad favor secular challenger, but key Shiite provinces remain

Early Iraq results favor secular challenger

BAGHDAD — Results released so far in Iraq’s parliamentary election show Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki trailing his main rival, former prime minister Ayad Allawi.

Results from six of Iraq’s 18 provinces show al-Maliki’s bloc winning 41 parliamentary seats, and Allawi’s coalition taking home 72 seats.

The provinces included the capital Baghdad and the oil-rich province of Basra, both of which went to al-Maliki, a Shiite.

But the numbers released Friday also included the key provinces of Ninevah, Anbar, Tamim and Diyala, where Allawi had been expected to prevail. The results did not include key Shiite provinces where al-Maliki is expected to do well.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi election officials say Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has won 14 of 24 seats in the southern city of Basra in the first set of full results to be released in Iraq’s parliamentary election.

The results came at a news conference Friday evening to announce the full election results, and hours after a twin bombing near a restaurant in a city north of Baghdad killed at least 40.

The police spokesman for Diyala province, Capt. Ghalib al-Karkhi, said dozens more were also injured in the blasts in Khalis, some 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of the capital.

The bombing raises concerns that violence could spike as a period of extended political negotiations ensue and political blocs try to form a government as U.S. troops draw down.