Election officials in Iraq have begun recounting millions of votes from March’s parliamentary elections to counter allegations of ballot fraud.
The initial count named former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi as the winner by a slim two-seat majority over incumbent prime minister Nouri al-Maliki.
But Mr Maliki refused to accept the result and demanded a recount, accusing the election commission of using improper counting procedures.
Officials have begun recounting 2.5 million ballot papers – a process that could take at least 10 days and may reverse Mr Allawi’s win.
The delay in forming a new government could stoke new sectarian violence because a change in the result would anger Iraq’s Sunni minority, which voted in force for Mr Allawi’s coalition.
Hundreds unable to vote in British election
London, May 7 (DPA) Hundreds of people were unable to vote in Britain’s general election because of long queues at polling stations and, in one instance, a shortage of ballot papers, it emerged Friday.
The Electoral Commission watchdog said it had ordered a ‘thorough review’ into incidents around the country in which people were unable to cast their votes by the time polls closed at 10 p.m. (2100 GMT Thursday).
The commission said the incidents were cause for ‘serious concern.’
In the northern English city of Sheffield, police were called to move people on when voters staged sit-in protests after waiting hours to vote.
It was reported that some polling stations ran out of ballot papers because of Thursday’s unexpectedly high turnout.
Commentators said the incidents could lead to legal challenges by candidates.