Counting of votes has been continuing following yesterday's general election in Iraq.
The United Iraqi Alliance, a Shia coalition, is leading in the polls in five southern provinces.
The UIA might face stiffer competition in urban areas like Baghdad from secular former prime minister Ilyad Allawi,
whose Iraqi National List came second in some Shiite regions.
In the province of Kerbala, the UIA, which includes religious parties like the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution and Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari's Dawa party, may have marked its highest score, at a reported 85%.
Elsewhere, voters were thought to have given strong local backing to parties or coalitions based on Sunni, Kurd, Turkmen and Christian leanings.
The Sunni minority are reported to have cast their ballots in large numbers.
Leading candidates for the 275-member parliament have pledged to restore stability and pave the way for an exit of foreign forces.
A final result is not expected for another two weeks.
