Iyad Allawi says not opposed to the manual recount

An Iraqi election review panel has ordered a recount of votes cast in Baghdad, in the March 7th election.

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who heads the Iraqiya alliance that currently holds a slim lead, said that his bloc was not opposed to the manual recount. But Allawai did voice concerns that certain provinces had not been included in the vote recount.

Iyad Allawi is the main challenger to current Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. His alliance now has a 2-seat lead in the 325 seat parliament.

Iyad Allawi, former Iraqi prime minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, speaks during a news conference in Baghdad April 20, 2010. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani