An Iraqi court on Monday ordered a hand-recount of 2.5 million Baghdad ballots from the March 7 election, which could change the balance of power in the country.
According to official results, Iyad Allawi, a secular Shi‘ite who captured most Sunni votes, won 91 seats compared to 89 for Maliki, a Shi’ite; Baghdad has 70 seats out of 325 seats in Parliament, 68 of which will be recounted.
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki complained that he lost a total of 750,000 votes to election fraud and that the posted results did not reflect the will of the people.
According to official results, Iyad Allawi, a secular Shi‘ite who captured most Sunni votes, won 91 seats compared to 89 for Maliki, a Shi’ite; Baghdad has 70 seats out of 325 seats in Parliament, 68 of which will be recounted.
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki complained that he lost a total of 750,000 votes to election fraud and that the posted results did not reflect the will of the people.
While neither bloc would have enough seats on its own to form a government, the leader that comes out ahead will form the next government. Allawi has said violence could erupt in the country if the election results are overturned.
The recount is expected to take more than a week.
