Iraq's Iyad Allawi urges swifter election result

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Page last updated at 17:24 GMT, Saturday, 20 March 2010

Iyad Allawi: "We need to have a fast and transparant declaration of the results"

The narrow leader in the race to become Iraq's next prime minister says poll results are taking too long to declare.

Iyad Allawi, who headed the country from 2004 to 2005, told the BBC full results from the 7 March election should have been released days ago.

Mr Allawi has a slim lead over current Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

But analysts say the count is so tight that a hectic period of coalition-building is likely to ensue once the results have been announced.

With more than 90% of the votes counted, Mr Allawi's Iraqiya political bloc is ahead by nearly 8,000 votes.

But Mr Maliki's State of Law alliance is ahead in seven of 12 provinces - meaning he stands to get more representation in a future parliament.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8578086.stm

[cws]

whatever we do, don't interrupt them or they will have to start all over again!!!!

1 2 3 4 for m, oh rats-start over

1 2 3 for allawi, crap messed up-start again

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 hold it my camel sneezed-recount again etc