Pro-Iranian groups finish ahead in Iraq’s local elections

By Haydar Karaalp

BAGHDAD (AA) - Pro-Iranian groups are ahead in most cities in Iraq’s provincial council elections, according to unofficial results on Tuesday.

The three main Iranian-backed electoral lists got the most votes in the non-final results, especially in southern Iraq, according to the High Election Commissioner's office.

From the Shiite electoral lists, both the Nabni (We are Building) Coalition, which includes political extensions of Hashd al-Shaabi (Iran’s Popular Mobilization Forces militia) and is led by Hadi al-Amiri, and the State of Law Coalition led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki were ahead.

The Union of National Forces Coalition, led by former Premier Haider Abadi and Shiite religious and political leader Ammar Hekim, came in third place after the Amiri and Maliki coalitions in some southern cities.

In Diyala, Governor Musenna Tamimi, who is close to the Badr Movement, led by Amiri, captured the top spot in the provincial assembly.

In the capital Baghdad, former Parliament Speaker Mohammad Halbusi's Takaddim Party won first place, while the Nebni Alliance took second place and the State of Law Coalition, led by Maliki, took third place.

Halbusi's party also came first in the western Anbar governorate.

In oil-rich Basra, the electoral list headed by Governor Asad Idani got the highest share with more than 250 votes.

In the eastern governorate of Wasit, the list formed by Muhammad Meyyahi, the governor, came in first.

The electoral lists of Amiri and Maliki won second and third places in both cities.

In the key multiethnic city of Kirkuk, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) won the most votes.

A coalition headed by Kirkuk's Governor Hakan Cuburi came second and the list of ethnic Turkmen parties came third.

*Writing by Merve Berker in Ankara