The UN on Thursday (May 17th) called for Iraq's electoral commission to "immediately and fully" investigate complaints by candidates and parties over the conduct of this month's legislative elections, AFP reported.

"The commission has to act expeditiously in order to seriously address all complaints," the UN's envoy to Iraq, Jan Kubis, said in a statement.

Partial results for the May 12th poll show the Marching Towards Reform alliance of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and communists ahead in six of Iraq's 18 provinces and second in four others.

Preliminary tallies also put the Conquest Alliance of the Popular Moblisation Forces next, followed by incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's bloc.

But the exact number of seats won by each bloc in parliament is still unknown.

The UN cited partial recounts in some locations, including Kirkuk.

"It is important these are undertaken in full transparency, witnessed by stakeholders, to strengthen... confidence in the process," said Kubis.

"I also call on all political actors to uphold the peace and to remain committed to resolving any electoral disputes through the established legal channels," he said.