>Allawi's secular, cross-sectarian Iraqiya list trailed Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law coalition in the national vote count but led in four of 18 provinces and was dominating largely Sunni areas.Allawi, 64, ran in the election on a nationalist platform, hoping to capitalize on Iraqis' disenchantment with the Islamist parties that have dominated power since 2003.He is known to covet the prime minister's post.Here are five facts about Allawi:* A secular Shi'ite, Allawi headed a transitional government from 2004-05, when the United States pulled the strings and Iraq was on the verge of a sectarian civil...

>Nationwide, Maliki's State of Law list held a lead of more than 125,000 votes over Iraqiya, a secular, cross-sectarian alliance headed by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, a week after a national election seen as a test of Iraq's tenuous democracy as it emerges from years of sectarian slaughter.Maliki...

>BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki edged ahead on Sunday in early results of an election Iraqis hoped would end years of sectarian strife, but the tight race indicated long and fraught negotiations to form a government. WorldEarly results from 14 of 18 provinces, representing a small share of...

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A list led by Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had a wide lead in early results from the southern oil hub of Basra a week after Iraq's parliamentary election, the country's electoral commission said on Sunday.