Shi'ite bloc to fall short of majority in Iraqi parliament

THE Islamist Shi'ite Alliance bloc will fall short of retaining its parliamentary majority after last month's election, according to an almost final tally of seats.

With six of 275 seats yet to be allocated, the Alliance and their Kurdish coalition partners were also one seat shy of the two-thirds majority needed to change the constitution, electoral commission figures show.

Final results are expected next week following a review of procedures by international observers responding to complaints of fraud by minority parties. No major change in the results from the December 15 vote is expected.