Iraq's vote recount in Baghdad did not change the parliamentary seat allocation, election officials said Sunday, leaving the cross-sectarian coalition led by former prime minister Iyad Allawi with the most seats. Allawi's Iraqiya bloc, supported heavily by Iraq's minority Sunnis, won 91 seats in the March 7 vote, edging out the mainly Shi'ite State of Law coalition led by Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki with 89. While Allawi has insisted that winning the close election gave him the first opportunity to form a new government, Maliki's bloc has already announced an alliance with the Shi'ite Iraqi National Alliance, the third-place finisher, to form the largest grouping in parliament. The Shi'ite dominated alliance could push Allawi to the sidelines and anger Sunnis who supported Iraqiya, raising concerns about a potential revival of sectarian conflict as US troops prepare to end combat operations in Iraq by Sept. 1. The recount of 2.5 million votes in Baghdad left intact Allawi's two-seat lead. “There is a change, but not a significant change, for the (candidates) inside the blocs. For example, Omar can replace Mohammed ... but the number of the seats stays as is, there is no change,” Saad Al-Rawi, one of nine commissioners on the Independent High Electoral Commission, said. Maliki had demanded the recount of votes cast in Baghdad, alleging fraud. Election officials said when they finished the recount Friday that they had found no signs of fraud, manipulation or big mistakes. Baghdad was the biggest prize in the election with more than 20 percent of the seats in the 325-seat parliament. The length of time it has taken to count ballots from the March 7 election and move on to certification of the final results could make Iraq vulnerable. After the last parliamentary election in 2005, violence exploded when politicians took more than five months to negotiate a new govt. – Agencies WHAT NEXT? WHO GETS THE FIRST CHANCE TO FORM A GOVT Allawi's chances of forming a government are slim. Instead, a Shi'ite mega tie-up announced between Maliki's faction and the other main Shi'ite group, the Iraqi National Alliance (INA), has the best chance. In theory, the president picked by the next parliament when it sits should give Allawi as the election winner the first shot at trying to form a government and 30 days in which to do so. WHAT STANDS IN MALIKI's WAY? The pick of prime minister is a hurdle that could yet defeat the plans to create a Shi'ite mega-faction. Maliki is opposed by the movement of anti-American cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr, which won 39 of INA's 70 seats and dislikes Maliki for sending troops to crush Sadr's Mehdi Army militia. Maliki is viewed with disquiet within the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, which has seen its former dominance of Shi'ite politics whittled away by Maliki's growing stature. In addition, the incumbent prime minister is thought to be viewed by Tehran as overly independent. HOW LONG WILL IRAQ REMAIN WITHOUT A GOVT? It could still take months to form a new government. While the election results will most likely be certified by June, diplomats expect politicians to want a package deal on all remaining issues – prime minister, president and ministries – before the new parliament is allowed to hold its first session. A popular estimate for a new government is August.
