<span style="color: black;">In Iraq, Shi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's party is the biggest winner in an Iraqi parliamentary election. His party has increased the number of its seats from 54 in 2018 to 73 this time in the 329-member parliament, according to initial results.<br />'' <br />''However, with 94 percent of the ballot boxes counted, none of the competing political blocs appeared on track to win a majority in parliament and consequently name a Prime Minister. Kurdish parties have won 61 seats. Sunni parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi's Taqaddum coalition won 38 seats. Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's State Of Law coalition came third overall with 37.<br />'' <br />''Sadr broadcast a live speech on state TV claiming victory and promising a nationalist government free of foreign interference. He said they welcome all embassies that do not interfere in Iraq's internal affairs.<br />'' <br />''Iraq's Shi'ite groups have dominated governments and government formation since the US-led invasion of 2003 that toppled Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein.<br />'' <br />''Voter turnout was 41 percent, a record low in the post-Saddam Hussein era.<br />''<br />''Sunday's election was held several months early, in response to mass protests in 2019 that toppled a government and showed widespread anger against political leaders whom many Iraqis say have enriched themselves at the expense of the country.</span>