The Iraqia List led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi has exceeded Nuri al-Maliki bloc in Iraq's parliamentary vote, but al-Maliki remained ahead in the largest provinces, ranking election official of Iraq announced Tuesday.

A combination photo of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki(L) and former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi. [Xinhua]

Allawi's block was ahead of al-Maliki's by about 9,000 votes of the more than 4.2 million for the two leading slates. But al-Maliki's bloc continued to lead in the expected number of seats since the prime minister is ahead in some of the largest provinces.

However, in Basra, al-Maliki's bloc was leading in the 84 percent counted votes of the total on Monday.

According to figures released by Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), al-Maliki's State of Law coalition won 341,667 votes followed by the Iraqi National Alliance, led by Shiite religious parties, with 188,435 votes. Allawi's bloc came the third with 57,496 votes.

In Baghdad, al-Maliki's bloc was leading in the 60 percent counted votes. Maliki's State of Law was leading with 518,530 votes, followed by the Iraqia List led by Allawi with 453,028 votes, and the Iraqi National Alliance, led by Shiite religious parties, came third with 323,975 votes.