BAGHDAD, Feb 3: A coalition of leading Shia parties swept 72.8 Per cent of the 1.6 million ballots counted so far in Iraq's landmark national elections, according to partial results released on Thursday.

The count issued by the electoral commission was from Baghdad and the five predominantly Shia provinces of Dhi Qar, Najaf, Karbala, Qadissiyah and Muthhana.

The United Iraqi Alliance, sponsored by spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, garnered 1.16 million of the votes counted at the commission's headquarters in Baghdad. The partial count represents just over 10 per cent of the estimated number of registered voters.

The alliance had been expected to win at least 50 per cent of votes from last Sunday's election for the national assembly, which will draw up a new constitution. A list headed by interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi came in second in the partial count, winning 294,587 votes or about 18.4 per cent. -AFP