Iraq's interim leader called on his countrymen to set aside their differences Monday, while local precincts finished a first-phase count of millions of ballots from the weekend election.
With the count completed at individual polling stations, local centers will prepare tally sheets and send them to Baghdad, where vote totals will be compiled, election Commission official Adel al-Lami said, according to The AP. Final results could take up to 10 days.
In his first news conference since the elections, Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi called on Iraqis to join together to re-build the Iraqi society.
"The terrorists now know that they cannot win," he said. "We are entering a new era of our history and all Iraqis - whether they voted or not - should stand side by side to build their future." He promised to work to ensure that "the voice of all Iraqis is present in the coming government."
