In Iraq, The early results show that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has been locked in a tight contest with ex-premier Iyad Allawi to win the post of prime minister. Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission announced initial results from four of the country's 18 provinces show that each of leaders is leading in two provinces. Al-Maliki's State of Law coalition is ahead in Najaf and Babil provinces south of Baghdad, while Allawi's secular Iraqiya alliance topping the list in two provinces Diyala and Salaheddin situated north and east of Baghdad. In northern Iraq however Patriotic Union of Kurdistan of the Iraqi president Jalal Talbani and the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Masoud Barazani, which represent Iraq's two major Kurdish parties, are far ahead. Analysts say that these initial results are not enough to get a clear national picture as results are based on less than thirty percent of votes.