<div><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">In Iraq, a populist coalition organised by influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr emerged as the early front-runner till half the vote counted in country's national election last night.</span></div>''<div><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><br />''</span></div>''<div><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Partial returns from Saturday's balloting, the first since Iraq declared victory over the Islamic State militant group were announced by the country's electoral commission and put al-Sadr's political alliance in the lead in four provinces, including Baghdad.</span></div>''<div><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><br />''</span></div>''<div><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Al-Sadr commands the devotion of millions of Iraqis who have sent their sons and husbands to fight for his militia from the early days of the U.S. occupation.</span></div>''<div><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><br />''</span></div>''<div><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">An electoral alliance of Hashd-linked candidates, headed by militia commander Hadi al-Amiri, is currently in second place in the election returns.</span></div>''<div><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><br />''</span></div>''<div><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">So far, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is performing poorly in early returns.</span></div>