Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law coalition is back in the lead as the parliamentary election count continues.

With 95 percent of the votes counted, the coalition has around 11,000 more votes than the Iraqiya party of former prime minister Iyad Allawi, according to the Iraqi electoral committee.

Earlier, the committee announced that Iraqiya was ahead with 92 percent of the votes counted.

Then Prime Minister al-Maliki said he would not accept a defeat and demanded a recount.

The preliminary result of the 7 March election will be announced on Friday.