Iraq is facing a fierce political power struggle even as the country battles extremists in the north and west, after its president went over the head of incumbent prime minister Nouri Maliki and picked another politician to form a new government.

Iraq’s president snubbed incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and picked another politician to form the next government yesterday, setting up a fierce political power struggle even as the country battles extremists in the north and west.

Two people have been killed and seven injured, some critically, after a suicide bomber blew herself up in a Governor's compound in Iraq's western Anbar Province.

Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki’s coalition took an early lead in the country’s key election according to results today.

Iraq was counting the votes today in national elections whose run-up cost scores their lives in insurgent attacks.