Baghdad ? Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki edged ahead Sunday in a tight race in the country’s parliamentary elections after partial results from all of Iraq’s 18 provinces showed his bloc leading in seven — two more than his chief rival.

The early tally strengthens al-Maliki’s chances of retaining the prime minister’s post, although he is unlikely to win a majority necessary to govern alone. Instead, leaders will try to cobble together a coalition government that will rule as U.S. forces leave Iraq in 2011.

His closest challenger, the secular Iraqiya bloc led former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, leads in five provinces; the religious Shiite Iraqi National Alliance and the main Kurdish coalition each lead in three.