Sistani list leads in key Sunni province

BAGHDAD, Feb 7 (AFP) - Iraq's main Shiite coalition was a surprise leader in the general election count for the Sunni-majority province of Salaheddin, the electoral commission announced Monday.
The United Iraqi Alliance -- which was blessed by top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani -- mustered more than 27,000 votes, while its closest challenger was an alliance of Kurdish parties.
The total number of registered voters in Salaheddin is not known, but figures provided after the votes were counted from 80 percent of the province's polling stations hint at a very low turnout.
Salaheddin is a large province just north of Baghdad and includes major Sunni cities including Samarra, Baiji and Tikrit.

02/07/2005 14:15 GMT - AFP