Middle East, Iraq Election Recount | featured news

Iraq's electoral commission on Sunday affirmed the victory of a Sunni-backed bloc in the March election after a partial recount of votes in Baghdad failed to back up the Shiite prime minister's claims of fraud.

More than two months after Iraq's parliamentary polls, the electoral commission reports no cases of fraud in a partial recount.

Only hours after a recount began on Monday, leaders of Nuri Kamal al-Maliki’s coalition sought a court order for a more review of what they called election irregularities.

The cross-sectarian coalition that took a narrow lead in Iraq's inconclusive March 7 election said on Tuesday it supported a recount of votes cast in Baghdad, but expressed concern over how it would be conducted.

The recount is limited, but it could upend the narrow victory of a coalition led by a former prime minister.

Electoral Commission is fraught with accusations of fraud in wake of March 7 parliamentary vote.