In Iraq's Ninevah province, Kurdish list wins largest bloc in election, but short of majority

BAGHDAD – Iraqi electoral officials say a Kurdish coalition has won the largest single bloc of seats in provincial elections in the restive northern province of Ninevah, though it fell short of a majority.

The Independent High Electoral commission announced that the Kurdish-backed al-Taakhi list won 11 of 39 provincial council seats up for grabs.

Ninevah borders Iraq's largely autonomous Kurdish region and has a sizable Kurdish minority. Many of the remaining seats went to Arab parties.

Iraqi parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi's Sunni Arab-backed United bloc came in second, with eight seats. The Loyalty to Ninevah party, backed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, was third with four seats.

Residents in Ninevah and neighboring Anbar province voted last week in local elections that had been delayed due to security concerns.