The United Nations has weighed in on the growing controversy over Iraq’s recent parliamentary elections, declaring them fair and credible.

• Craig Jenness, chief UN Electoral Observer in Iraq: The United Nations is of the view that these elections were transparent and credible. The turnout was high, the day was largely peaceful, all communities participated. Over 230,000 agents of political entities and 120,000 Iraqi observers were present in all stations in Iraq.”

Sunni and secular Shiite parties have alleged voter fraud after early returns gave the religious Shiite coalition the United Iraqi Alliance an overwhelming lead. Dhafir al-Ani, spokesperson for the main Sunni alliance the Iraqi Consensus Front, told the New York Times : “Several international workers sitting inside the Green Zone are not able to evaluate the election matter. We still believe that huge fraud happened in the Iraqi election and it completely changed the results.” Final election results are expected next week.