Early lead in Iraq elections

IRAQI prime minister Nouri al-Maliki’s coalition took an early lead in key election according to results yesterday.

He edged ahead in two southern Shiite provinces where he was opposed by hard-line religious parties with close ties to Iran.

The results were the first to be released by the Independent High Electoral Commission since Sunday’s ballot, and Iraqis continued to wait for results from the country’s other 16 provinces.