Iraqi PM: Laying groundwork for new coalition government
The Iraqi prime minister's bloc said Friday it has started laying the groundwork to form a coalition government, signaling growing confidence after preliminary election results showed it winning in at least three provinces in the southern Shiite heartland.
The outcome from the key parliamentary vote was far from certain, with election officials still counting ballots nearly a week after Iraqis went to the polls.
Partial tallies so far have been released from seven of Iraq's 18 provinces, excluding Baghdad, and he picture was further muddied Friday when results from one province showed an Iran-backed Shiite religious coalition leading but also gave another province to Prime Minister Nurial-Maliki.
Al-Maliki's rivals also raised new allegations of fraud, which could mar the process that will determine who should lead the country as U.S. forces prepare to go home.
