Initial results show Mr.Maliki's State of Law bloc with a slim overall lead over former prime minister Iyad Allawi and his secular Iraqiya faction.

VOA: standard.2010.03.12

As in the 2010 national elections, al-Maliki's Shiite-dominated State of Law coalition is vying against the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc.

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Talks between Mr Maliki and the former Prime Miniser, Iyad Allawi, whose al-Iraqiya bloc won two more seats than Mr Maliki's State of Law alliance, have repeatedly stalled.

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Its main rival, the Sunni-dominated Iraqiya bloc, suffered poor results.

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