Iraq PM in tight race as opposition alleges fraud
Baghdad-12-03-2010
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was locked in a tight contest to hold on to his job on Friday, as election results from Iraq's polls trickled in and opposition blocs alleged blatant fraud. Al-Maliki faces a strong challenge from ex-premier Iyad Allawi, whose secular al-Iraqiya bloc has emerged as the strongest challenger to the incumbent's hopes of retaining his post, initial voting figures showed.
Al-Iraqiya has alleged that fraud took place during Sunday's polls in favour of al-Maliki's State of Law Alliance, a charge dismissed by the latter bloc as exaggerated."There has been clear and flagrant fraud," charged Intisar Allawi, a senior al-Iraqiya candidate and relative of the former prime minister.
AFP
