Panel Orders Vote Recount In Iraqi Capital

A review panel has ordered a manual recount of ballots cast in Baghdad during Iraq's March 7 general election.

Election commissioner Hamdiya al-Husseini said the recount would begin immediately.

The capital accounts for 68 seats in the 325-seat parliament.

Incumbent Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's bloc had been seeking a manual recount after coming a close second in the election.

Results of the elections showed former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's Al-Iraqiyah list winning 91 seats in the 325-member parliament, followed by Maliki's coalition with 89 seats.

The Iraqi National Alliance won 70 seats.

There were more than 332 appeals to the court from different political bodies to challenge the results of the elections.

compiled from agency reports

Iraq Elections 2010: Complete Results