Election posters, Baghdad.

Toss in a Muslim mix consisting of about 60 per cent Shia and 33 per cent Sunni and more than four million Iraqi Kurds (most of whom are Sunni) and less than a million Christians – and you've got a lot of competing interests that makes it tough for any one party or group to secure the two-thirds of seats needed to control the legislative assembly.

One-quarter of the seats are reserved for women.

On January 30, 2005, more than 8.5 million people turned out to vote in Iraq's first democratic election in more than 50 years – despite threats of attacks on polling stations. Voter turnout was just under 60 per cent – or pretty close to what it was in the June 2004 federal election in Canada, where the risk of bad weather is usually the greatest threat.

The coalition government that emerged from that election was only supposed to last long enough to draft a constitution that would pave the way for an election to establish a government that would rule Iraq for the next four years.

Sunni Arabs are believed to be behind most insurgent attacks within Iraq. In the days leading up to the Dec. 15 vote, U.S. President George W. Bush praised the decision by some Sunni groups to take part in the election process. Far more Sunni candidates registered for the December vote than for the election for the transitional government in January.

As well, more than 1.5 million Iraqis living in 15 countries were given the right to vote. The parliament elected in January was dominated by Shia parties. The United Iraqi Alliance – a group backed by Shia clergy – won 48 per cent of the vote. While the Alliance held the most seats, it was still far short of the two-thirds majority needed to control the assembly.

The official results of the Dec.15 vote were released more than a month after the election, on Jan. 20, 2006. As expected, Shia parties continued to dominate, but fell short of a majority in Parliament. Sunni parties – which boycotted the January vote – wound up with about a fifth of the seats.

Some Sunni politicians have alleged vote fraud, including ballot box stuffing and violations of campaign bans. However, international observers gave the process a passing grade. Despite the allegations of fraud, most Sunni politicians say they are ready to discuss their role in a government of national unity.

The following table illustrates results from the two elections in Iraq in 2005:

Iraqis name first full-term prime minister since the ousting of Saddam Hussein

On April 22, 2006, more than four months after elections were held, a prime minister-designate was named. Shia politician and Dawa Party member, Jawad al-Maliki was nominated.

Jalal Talabani was re-elected as President and Tariq al-Hashimi was elected as Iraq's new Sunni vice-president.

The unusual delay was caused by internal disputes among Shias, Sunnis and Kurds since elections in December 2005. The Kurds and Sunnis did not want the former Shia prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to return for a second term.

At the beginning of April 2006, Jaafari stood aside in favour of Maliki, who was more acceptable to the Kurds and the Sunnis. The squabbling between the various political parties engendered an outburst in sustained sectarian violence. Some commentators described the fighting as tantamount to a civil war.

As prime minister-designate, Maliki's was given 30 days to form a government of national unity by appointing a cabinet that would include Kurds, Shia and Sunni Arabs.

Before the new administration can begin work in earnest, the Iraqi parliament must ratify both Maliki's appointment and his cabinet selections.