JURIST - Paper Chase: Final Iraq election results show Shiite win, Sunni gains

[JURIST] The Shiite United Iraqi Alliance [BBC profile] won 128 of 275 seats in the Iraqi parliament, the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) [official website] said Friday when it released final results [PDF text] from the December 15 parliamentary elections [JURIST news archive]. Results had been delayed pending the outcome of an investigation into alleged voting fraud [JURIST report], which culminated with the release of a report [text] Thursday by the International Mission for Iraqi Elections (IMIE). The IMIE found isolated instances of fraud [JURIST report] but certified voting procedures as consistent with international standards and endorsed the election results. Under the final results, which do not include tallies from 227 ballot boxes [JURIST report] set aside by the IECI after their own fraud investigation, the Shiite alliance did not capture an outright majority and will have to rule with coalition partners. Sunni parties won 55 seats, giving them a larger role in the legislature than they had following the January 2005 election. Two major Kurdish parties won 53 seats, a decrease from their representation in the outgoing parliament. AP has more.

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