Outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki looks on course to win Iraq’s parliamentary elections. Held last month the preliminary results are giving al-Maliki, in power for the last eight years at least 94 seats, nearly double his two main rivals combined.<br /><br />The size of the win, if confirmed, enhances his claim to be the unchallenged ruler of the Shi’ite majority.<br /><br />Previously this authority had to deal with a considerable counterweight, but Muqtada al-Sadr only picked up 28 seats while the Islamic Supreme Council got 29 as their Shi’ite challenge crumbled.<br /><br />Maliki will still need support to get a majority in the 328-seat chamber<br />where it is unclear how the 62-seat Kurdish block will vote.<br /><br />However security remains the most pressing issue as al-Maliki continues his five-month long strategy of attacking the Sunni Islamic State of Iraq armed group, and tackling terrorist attacks.
