Recount ordered in Iraq election

BAGHDAD, April 19 (UPI) -- A recount has been ordered in last month's general election in Iraq, raising tensions as U.S. combat troops prepare to withdraw, observers say.

The recount will be partial, limited to the province that contains the capital of Baghdad, but could overturn the narrow victory of a coalition led by a former prime minister over Iraq's incumbent prime minister, The New York Times reported Monday.

Nouri al-Maliki, the incumbent, filed a legal challenge to the victory of the coalition led by Iyad Allawi, the newspaper said.

A three-member Iraqi court ordered the recount Monday.

"After the recount, we are hoping the results of the election in Baghdad will change," Hajim al-Hassani, a Maliki spokesman, said. "Whatever the decision will be, we will accept it."

Allawi warned of violence if his electoral victory was overturned.

"If this happens, there will be very big problems in the country," Allawi said before Monday's ruling.

Insurgents have already taken advantage of the election's uncertainty, using bombings and other attacks to aggravate long-standing conflict among Iraq's sectarian groups, the Times reported.