UPDATE - Abadi’s coalition leads Iraq polls: Spokesman

*UPDATES WITH WATANIYA ALLIANCE LEADING IN 4 SUNNI-MAJORITY PROVINCES

By Ali Jawad

BAGHDAD (AA) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi’s coalition is leading in the country’s parliamentary election, a coalition spokesman told Anadolu Agency.

“Preliminary results show that the Victory Coalition is leading the polls,” Hussein al-Adli said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a source with the Al-Wataniya Alliance, which is led by former Vice-President Iyad Allawi, said the alliance was leading in four Sunni-majority provinces.

The alliance is an umbrella of 26 political parties and blocs, including the Civil Society for Reform party of Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri.

“Preliminary results show that the Alliance was leading in the provinces of Anbar, Saladin, Nineveh and Diyala,” the source said on condition of anonymity because he was unauthorized to speak to media.

Official results are expected to be announced in the coming days.

On Saturday, Iraqis voted in the country’s first parliamentary election since Iraq declared victory against the Daesh terrorist group.

According to the election commission, around 10.8 million Iraqis out of 24 million eligible voters took part in the vote, with a turnout of 44.52 percent.

The polls were held under the shadow of economic crisis, the return of thousands of refugees, political polarization, and security concerns.