Al-Maliki's bloc takes lead in Iraq election

In Iraq, the latest results from a partial vote count show the bloc led by current Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki taking strong leads in seven of the 18 provinces. So far, 66 percent of the total votes have been counted.

Nuri al-Maliki is pulling ahead in two of Iraq's three biggest constituencies, Baghdad and Basra. His State of Law bloc is leading after 60 percent of the votes were counted in Baghdad, followed by the Iraqia List party led by former prime minister Ayad Allawi, and then the Iraqi National Alliance, or the INA led by Shiite religious parties. With 84 percent of the votes counted in Basra, Maliki's bloc ranked first, followed by the INA, and then Allawi's bloc.

Local reports say Maliki has already formed a commission to discuss possible coalitions with other blocs for a united government.