Kingmaker refuses to back Iraq's poll winners

BAGHDAD - Iraq's political disarray deepened Wednesday when a potential kingmaker withheld his support from both big poll winners and said he would ask supporters to make the choice in a referendum.

Compounding the confusion, the incumbent prime minister refused to abandon his claim of fraud and his demand for a recount.

A coalition led by secular challenger Ayad Allawi eked out a two-seat lead over a mainly Shi'ite bloc led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in results released last Friday.