Iraq's Shia-led United Iraqi Alliance has won the country's parliamentary elections, but failed to obtain an absolute majority.
Some 2,000 complaints have been noted since the election
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The alliance received 128 seats out of 275, with Kurdish parties gaining 53 and the main Sunni Arab bloc 44.
The Shias will now be expected to form a coalition government with the other ethnic groups.
A number of Sunni politicians have alleged fraud, and international observers criticised irregularities.
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ELECTION RESULTS
United Iraqi Alliance: 128 seats
Kurdistan Alliance: 53
Iraqi Accord Front (Sunni): 44
Iraqi National List (secular-based): 25
Iraqi Front for National Dialogue (Sunni): 11
Other parties: 14
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No final judgement was made on whether the poll was free and fair.
Security measures have been tightened in Baghdad and
three Sunni Arab-dominated provinces amid fears of increased insurgent
violence around the time of Friday's announcement.
There were reports of a dawn operation by US and Iraqi
troops against insurgents in Baghdad's al-Doura district. Witnesses
reported loud explosions and bursts of gunfire.
And a roadside bomb attack, apparently targeting a US
convoy, killed at least two civilians and injured several others in the
city centre.
On Thursday, 15 people were killed in a double bombing in Baghdad.
In the first attack, a suicide bomber walked into a café
and blew himself up. Moments later a car bomb exploded near a passing
police patrol.
Talk of unity
The final result of the 15 December poll was announced just after 1500 local time (1200 GMT).
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IRAQ ELECTION FACTS
275-seat National Assembly will have four-year term
18 provinces are taken as separate constituencies
230 seats allocated according to population
45 seats distributed to parties whose ethnic, religious or political support is spread over more than one province
15 million eligible voters
One third of candidates in each party must be women
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The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Baghdad says there is much
talk of a coalition of national unity comprising Shia, Sunni Arab and
Kurdish blocs, but negotiations could take weeks or even months.
It is hoped that such a coalition will draw the sting from the insurgency, he says.
But one senior Shia politician has already expressed his
doubts about that, and Iraq has, over the past three years, seen many
false dawns.
Some 2,000 complaints of fraud, violence and intimidation have been noted since the election.
Allegations levelled at the conduct of the election include:
The stuffing of ballot boxes and theft, tally sheet tampering, incorrect voter lists and multiple voting
Improper police and military conduct
Campaigning within polling centres and violations of a pre-election ban on campaigning. | 
