In the results of Iraq's March 7 vote, former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi surpassed Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, setting the stage for prolonged political negotiations and potentially creating a dangerous power vacuum. The latest results, which overturned Maliki's previous lead, were announced amidst twin bomb attacks in Mussayab that left eight people dead. The attacks highlighted Iraq's vulnerability as it faces the prospect of significant political changes and the withdrawal of US troops. These incidents, coupled with recent violence in Anbar province, cast doubt on the country's fragile security as politicians engage in lengthy and divisive discussions to form a new government. Allawi's slight lead in the national vote count over Maliki's State of Law bloc underscores Iraq's deep divisions following years of sectarian conflict. Allawi, a secular Shi'ite leader whose Iraqiya list is currently leading in five provinces, has garnered support from Sunni minorities seeking to regain the power they lost after Saddam Hussein's regime ended in 2003. With approximately 80 percent of votes counted, there is only a slim margin separating Maliki's coalition from Allawi's. Final results may not be determined for weeks, but one of the two blocs is likely to form an alliance with either the largely Shi'ite Iraqi National Alliance or the Kurdish parties in the north. While Maliki is known for stabilizing Iraq after civil war threats, Allawi's supporters, who view him as a critic of the dominant religious parties, are feeling confident. Thaer al-Naqeeb, a close associate of Allawi, expressed confidence that 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 the post-election period, already marred by fraud allegations, may see the loser attempting to challenge the winner even after the final tally. How Iraq establishes a government that is acceptable to rival factions like Maliki and Allawi, as well as other factions in the country, will be crucial for maintaining security as the US plans to withdraw by the end of 2011. The alliance of the two main Kurdish parties is leading in three provinces in northern Iraq, but is closely behind Allawi's bloc in Kirkuk, a province at the center of Arab-Kurd tensions. Allawi currently has a slight lead over the Kurdish bloc in Kirkuk. According to Iraq expert Toby Dodge, Iran's influence could play a significant role in forming a government alliance between Maliki, the INA, and the Kurds. He stated that to a certain degree, this would resemble the coalition that governed Iraq poorly from 2006 to 2010. The Iranian government, keen on having a Shi'ite representative in charge of Iraq, commended the elections. The Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, congratulated Iraqis on the success of the elections, noting that all international monitoring had verified their validity.