In the latest results from Iraq's March 7 election, former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has slightly surpassed current Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. These results suggest that there may be a prolonged period of political negotiations and a potential power vacuum. The shift in results came on a day when twin bomb attacks in Mussayab killed eight people, highlighting Iraq's vulnerability as it faces political change and the withdrawal of US troops. The recent violence raises concerns about the country's fragile security during the upcoming talks to form a new government. Allawi's narrow lead over Maliki's State of Law bloc underscores Iraq's deep divisions after years of sectarian conflict. Allawi, a secular Shi'ite leader whose Iraqiya list is leading in five provinces, has garnered support from Sunni minorities who seek to regain influence lost after Saddam Hussein's rule ended in 2003. With most of the votes counted, there is a narrow margin between Maliki's and Allawi's coalitions. Final results may not be determined for weeks. One of the two blocs is expected to form an alliance with the Iraqi National Alliance or Kurdish parties. Despite Maliki's reputation for stabilizing Iraq, Allawi's allies are feeling optimistic about their chances. Thaer al-Naqeeb, a close associate of Allawi, expressed confidence that the final election results would show Allawi leading Maliki, despite Maliki currently leading in Baghdad. Joost Hiltermann, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, warned that in the midst of fraud allegations, the loser of the election may not accept defeat gracefully and may try to challenge the winner after the final tally. How Iraq establishes a government that is acceptable to rival factions such as Maliki and Allawi, as well as other competing groups in the country, will be crucial for maintaining security as the US aims to withdraw by the end of 2011. A coalition of the two main Kurdish parties is currently leading in three Kurdish provinces in northern Iraq, but is closely following Allawi's bloc in Kirkuk, a province known for its oil production and a contentious dispute between Arabs and Kurds. Allawi is currently ahead of the Kurdish bloc in Kirkuk by a small margin. Toby Dodge, an expert on Iraq at the University of London, suggested that Iran's influence on Iraq, as a fellow Shia-majority neighbor, could play a significant role in forming a new government alliance between Maliki, the INA, and the Kurds. He mentioned that this would partially resemble the coalition that governed Iraq poorly from 2006 to 2010. The Iranian government, wanting to have a Shi'ite representative in charge of Iraq, commended the elections. The Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast stated that all international monitoring had verified the fairness of the Iraqi elections, considering it a successful outcome and congratulating the Iraqi people.