Ahlul Bayt News Agency (ABNA.ir) - Iraqi officials began on Monday a controversial recount of the 2.5 million ballots cast in Baghdad, a move requested by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki who narrowly lost a parliamentary election held nearly two months ago.
Political factions have since the March 7 vote wrestled over the results which showed a bloc led by al-Maliki coming two seats short of a rival coalition led by a secular Shia heavily backed by Sunni Arabs.
Since no one won an outright majority in the 325-seat legislature, all parties have been involved in intense talks to cobble together a majority to form the next government.
The manual hand count, which election officials say could take two to three weeks, means further delay to an already lengthy election process that has raised fears of an increase in violence just as U.S. troops prepare to go home.
End Item / 143
