Iraq's parliamentary elections are proving to be a close race between the Shi'ite State of Law coalition of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Iraqiya, an alliance of Shi'ite and Sunni groups led by former prime minister Iyad Allawi.

Around eighty percent of the estimated twelve million votes cast have now been counted.

Mr Maliki's party initially seemed sure to win, but his victory is now far from certain. The final results are not expected for a few weeks. The parliamentary elections took place on 7 March.