Iraq's Supreme Court Ratifies Results Of Parliamentary Elections

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki

Iraq's Supreme Court today ratified the results of the nation's March 7 parliamentary election, officially declaring the secular Al-Iraqiyah alliance of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi as the biggest winner.

Confirmation of the results follows a court-ordered recount of all votes in Baghdad and the disqualification of candidates with ties to the outlawed Ba'ath Party of former ruler Saddam Hussein.

Today's ruling is seen as a major step toward resolving Iraq's election crisis and seating a new parliament. But the political impasse remains far from over, as it could take weeks for lawmakers to agree on a new government.

Under Iraq's election law, the largest coalition in parliament takes the lead in proposing the new administration.

The largest coalition appears to belong not to Al-Iraqiyah but to the second-place challenger and incumbent Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

compiled from agency reports