Votes counting is underway in Iraq’s elections, with preliminary results expected in several days.

Turnout in the election was reported much higher than expected but the polls were marred by voilence, with doznes killed in bomb and mortar attacks.

However, the official sources told the Shiite News that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, chief of Shia Dawa-party’s, State of Law Coalition emerged Monday as a front-runner in the country’s general elections.  The Maliki’s State of Law Coalition is widely expected to win the most seats.

Though, the final official results will not be declared until the end of March, though preliminary results are expected in two or three days. But unnamed Iraqi officials said that Mr Maliki is leading in nine of Iraq’s 18 provinces.

The key estimates from the Baghdad region, which could swing the results of Sunday’s poll, were not yet available.  Millions voted, braving rocket, mortar and bomb attacks that killed 38 people to cast their ballots in the second parliamentary election since the ouster of dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Maliki’s State of Law Coalition was ahead in Shiite regions while Saudi and US backed Iyad Allawi, an ex-premier who heads the secular Al-Iraqiya, was leading in Sunni areas, said unofficial estimates AFP obtained from officials across the country. But early indications were looking good for Maliki.

The other leading list is the Iraqi National Alliance of Shia parties led by the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council Syed Ammar al-Hakim and the Sadr’s movement led by senior cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

It may be noted here that the Iraqi’s were voted to elect 325-member parliament, about 19 million Iraqi’s are eligible voters out of 28 million.

The 6,200 candidates were contesting the election from 86 factions and Six main alliances platforms.

Islamic flags-bearing teenagers and youths were awarded medals on Saturday for their steadfastness and unwavering commitment to Azadari-e-Imam Hussain (AS) that they continued lifting the ‘alams’ of Hazrat Abbas (AS) (Islamic flags) despite a huge blast on Ashura mourning procession of Shia Muslims.

Around 72 mourners are believed to have been killed in that blast on December 28, 2009 but bodies of only 43 were identified and others torn-apart bodies were lying in cold-storage.

Nasiran-e-Imam Foundation (AS) had hosted the program at Catholic Ground to eulogize the astonishing and unbelievable act of the “alamdars” (flags-bearers). Thousands of Shia Muslims including youths and children, mothers and sisters and elderly persons participated in the ceremony.

According to the Shiite News Correspondent, Eminent scholars were: Maulana Aqeel Moosa, Sadiq Taqvi, Maulana Mohammad Ali, Maulana Aqeel Sajidi, Maulana Mohammad Hassan Raeesi. Divisional President of Imamia Students Organization Karachi Zain Ansari and mayor of Imamia Organization also participated.

As a matter of fact, Hazrat Abbas (AS), younger brother of Imam Hussain (AS), was flag bearer of his group that had to fight a war imposed on the true followers of Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW), the last apostle of Allah and Prophet of Islam (PBUH).

Hazrat Abbas (AS) had set an example that he didn’t quench his thirst and preferred other thirsty followers including children and in particular 6 year old daughter of Imam Hussain. The army of Umayyad ruler Yazid had occupied the Euphrates river near Karbala, the only source of water to drink and bath, disallowing the followers of Imam Hussain (AS) to use water. Hazrat Abbas Alamdar, suffered from immense thirst, broke the siege, and filled his “mashk” (water-skin) and on way to reach the tents of children. The army of the Umayyad regime equipped with swords, arrows and spears (lances) cut his arms in a bid to foil his attempt.

Hazrat Abbas (AS) continued lifting of the flag and mashk but arrows hit the water-skin and finally, he was murdered. However, he kept Islamic flag up otherwise it would have been considered a defeat had he allowed the flag to fall down.

Following the footprints of Hazrat Abbas (AS), the alamdars of Ashura procession also kept the flag up. Some of their colleagues in scouts were martyred and many bodies were lying torn-apart but they shouldered their responsibility. A vast majority of the Ashura mourners peacefully continued their procession as usual, let alone the alamdars.

Shia Muslims host the Ashura procession to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) and his followers who were ferociously assassinated in Karbala (IRAQ) by the brutal army of tyrant Umayyad regime of Yazid. Imam Hussain (AS) was the maternal grandson of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW), Prophet of Islam and the last apostle of Allah. Umayyad regime, founder of an un-Islamic dynastic-rule had forced the progeny and true followers of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) for allegiance in a bid to gain legitimacy. Imam Hussain (AS) and his followers had refused to bow to illegal and unjust rule and that cost them dearly.

Ashura or Azadari as a whole is not a sectarian ritual. Factually speaking, almost all the freedom-loving persons participate in azadari (the Islamic mourning) that is part of Shia Islam’s recommended and sometimes obligatory ritual. Sunni Muslims who had joined the mourning with Shia Muslims also fell victims alongside their Shia brothers because of terrorism in Ashura blast.

Hindus and Christians also pay respect to Imam Hussain (AS). Imam Hussain (AS) is a non-controversial leader of freedom-seekers all over the world and he is source of inspiration for all the oppressed people who want freedom from the yoke of Imperialism, and unjust financial systems mainly Capitalism.

Quetta police killed a man who opened fire on an Imambargah in the Kashmirabad area near Sariab Road in Quetta, on Monday. According to the Police sources, the attacker identified as Noorul Haq (26) was firing at the Imambargah when the police arrived. “Seeing police, he also opened indiscriminate fire on the police to which they retaliated, and he was gunned down,” police sources said. His body was shifted to city morgue for an autopsy. A case has been registered and the police have started further investigations.

The sources claimed that terrorist want to attack the Shia worshipers gathered in the Imam Baragah to offer prayers but the Police were successfully foiled the bid of terrorism.

According to the Shiite News correspondent, An armed terrorist was trying to barge into the Imambargah and opened fire on one of the caretakers ( Custodian) of the ImamBargah.

The gunman was killed in retaliatory fire by the cops deployed at the prayer place.

DIG operations said the man wanted to enter the Imambargah, adding that another man accompanying him fled when police started firing.

Following the shootout, heavy contingents of police and Frontier Corps reached in the spot while the body of the alleged attacker, identified as Noorul Haq (26) was shifted to a local hospital for autopsy. Eye witnesses said a pistol was also recovered from his possession.

Iraq awaited initial results Tuesday from polls touted as a test of its young democracy, with Baghdad holding the key as the prime minister’s list.

Thirty percent of votes were due to be counted by the evening, giving Iraq’s complex range of political blocs their first official indication of how they fared in the second general election since the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki emerged Monday as the front-runner, according to estimates AFP obtained from officials across the country. But he could yet face a tough battle to cling to power after the vote on Sunday that saw millions defy bomb, mortar and rocket attacks which killed 38 people to cast their ballots.

Estimates of early trends in the Baghdad region, which with its 70 parliamentary seats could swing the result of the vote, are not yet available. However, officials said on Monday that Maliki’s political bloc was leading the count in nine of Iraq’s 18 provinces.

His State of Law Alliance was ahead in Muslim Shiite regions, while United States and Saudia Arabia backed Saddam loyalist Iyad Allawi, a former premier who heads the Baathist Alliance al-Iraqiya list, led in Five Sunni Province, according to estimates AFP and other news agencies obtained from officials across the country.

The complete results will be announced on March 18 and the final official results – after any appeals are taken into account – will come at the end of the month. Months of horse-trading are then likely before a new government is formed.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law coalition has claimed it is leading in the country’s parliamentary election, according to preliminary results.

The State of Law’s representatives say the coalition had come up trumps in Baghdad and the Shia south, the coalition’s Abbas al-Bayati was quoted as saying by the Associated Press early on Tuesday morning.

“We think that the State of Law coalition will shoulder the task of forming the next government,” he said.

The other leading Alliance is the Shia parties Iraq National Alliance, dominated by two Shiite religious parties – the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council and the movement of leader Sayyed Moqtada al-Sadr, who led two uprisings against US occupation troops. Overall voter turnout on Sunday was officially given at 62.4 percent.