Baghdad ? Seizing on an early lead in Iraq’s election, the prime minister’s political coalition began reaching out to rivals Friday as partial results signaled a tight race that was unlikely to produce a clear-cut winner.

It’s doubtful that Nouri al-Maliki — even if he keeps his job — will be able to build a seamless government from political parties separated by sectarian fault lines and Shiite rivalries.

That would mean more political instability as American forces prepare to withdraw and further setbacks to efforts to reconcile Iraq’s fractured ethnic and sectarian communities.

The count for all of Iraq’s 18 provinces, including all-important Baghdad, was not expected for days and the outcome of the March 7 parliamentary vote was far from certain. Election officials said they have been struggling with malfunctions such as computers crashing and employees working too slowly.