Iraq's elections commission says Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has taken the largest share of votes in the province that includes the formerly Islamic State-held city of Mosul

Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who led punishing attacks on American forces after the 2003 U.S.-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein, appears set to secure the most significant victory of his political career with a strong showing in last weekend's election

The Iraqi political coalition led by influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr holds the lead in early returns from the country's national elections, while an alliance of candidates linked to Iraq's powerful Shiite paramilitary groups is in second

At Iraq's polls, many voters seek patronage and jobs.

Iraq's electoral commission says influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's alliance is the current front-runner in national elections with official results in from just over half of the country's provinces

Influential Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is current front-runner as partial national election results announced

Polls have closed across Iraq Saturday evening in the first national election since the country declared victory over the Islamic State group.

Iraq's national elections commissioner says turnout in the first parliamentary elections since the country declared victory over the Islamic State group was 44 percent

Polls close across Iraq in the first national election since the country declared victory over the Islamic State group

Iraqi polls open in first national election since declaration of victory over Islamic State extremists