News / Middle East

Iraqi PM's Alliance: Election Tainted by Up to 750,000 Fraudulent Votes

TEXT SIZE - +

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's political grouping says its investigation into last month's parliamentary election has uncovered evidence of fraud affecting up to 750,000 votes.

Mr. Maliki's State of Law alliance said Sunday its estimated tally of fraudulent votes had significantly affected the outcome of the election, which made the grouping the second largest in parliament.

Alliance spokesman Hajim al-Hasani says it found evidence of vote manipulation in five provinces, including Baghdad - which has the largest share of parliamentary seats.

He says the alliance has filed a complaint about the alleged fraud to an Iraqi election appeals committee and wants a recount of votes in those provinces.

International observers have said the March 7 election was fair.  Its results were inconclusive, leaving the two main groupings far short of a parliamentary majority.

Official results made the Iraqiya alliance of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi the largest in parliament with 91 seats, two ahead of Mr. Maliki's alliance. Both groups have been seeking coalition partners to build a majority in the 325-seat assembly.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

You May Like

Video Egypt's Conservative Rural Vote Appears Split

Early speculation after the first two-day round is showing a race too close to call More

NATO Continues Plans for Missile Defense

While Afghanistan dominated talks in Chicago, member states also reaffirmed their commitment to ballistic-missile defense More

War Declared on Invasive Leaping Asian Carp

When Asian carp were first imported decades ago, few foresaw their environmental impact. More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one
Middle East Voices

Middle East Monitor: Speculating Who is Ahead in Egypt

More

Egypt’s Mohamed Morsi Appears to Take Early Election Lead

More

Morsi, Shafiq Emerging as Possible Frontrunners in Egypt Presidential Poll

More
Read more