Iraq counting votes after Sunday's parliamentary election

The head of Iraq's election commission said the turnout was between 55 and 60 percent.

Faraj al-Haidari, who heads the Independent High Electoral Commission, said that the exact figures would be released later Monday at a news conference.

Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's State of Law Coalition is widely expected to win the most seats.

The State of Law claimed it was on course for victory in Baghdad and Iraq's Shi'ite south, which claim could not be verified.

It is not likely that one party will form a government alone. There might be months of negotiations on a coalition.

The final official results will not be announced until the end of March.

According to unnamed Iraqi officials, Mr Maliki was leading in nine of Iraq's 18 provinces.

In related news, insurgents bombed a polling station and lobbed grenades at voters Sunday, killing 38 people in attacks aimed at intimidating Iraqis participating in the election. [See related video below]