Iraqi PM wins majority in key southern province as twin blasts kill 40 north of Baghdad

Iraqi PM wins most seats in Basra in 1st results

BAGHDAD — 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.

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

BAGHDAD (AP) — The top official for the United Nations in Iraq says the UN has determined Iraq’s March 7 parliamentary elections were credible and called on all sides to accept the results.

The comments by Ad Melkert 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 people.

The police spokesman for Diyala province, Capt. Ghalib al-Karkhi, said dozens more were also injured in the blasts in the town of 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.