Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said on Tuesday he expected the country's next government to be Islamist but hoped that more liberal voices would be heard in the shaping of Iraq's future. In his first interview since the January 30 vote, Iraq's leading secular politician told Reuters he hoped the winners would include all sectors of Iraqi society in the formation of the next administration.
Results released on Sunday show the United Iraqi Alliance, a coalition of largely Shia groups formed with the tacit support of Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's foremost Shia cleric, won 48 percent of the vote.
"The United Iraqi Alliance are Islamists. Some are liberal, sure, but they tend to be more Islamist," Allawi said.
"The Iraqi people, 50 percent of the Iraqi people, decided that they want to see an Islamic government in Iraq and we must respect that.
"I am satisfied with the results because it is clearly the decision of the Iraqi people. Its decision is to support the Islamic factions ... this is democracy. "Our beliefs are clear," he said of his coalition. "Rule in Iraq should be liberal and not under political religion."
Allawi's coalition came third in the vote, winning about 14 percent, enough to secure him around 40 seats in the 275-seat National Assembly. A coalition of Iraq's two main Kurdish parties came second, winning a little over 25 percent of votes.
Allawi, who has been interim prime minister since June last year and is regarded as having developed good relations with his top ally, US President George W. Bush, said he would not be upset to lose his job.
He had been tipped to be a compromise candidate for the post if the United Iraqi Alliance, which was always expected to win the election, could not agree on a candidate.
On Tuesday, they looked to have agreed that Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the Islamist leader of the religious Dawa Party, would be their choice.
"Personally, I don't like the idea of continuing (to be the prime minister)," Allawi said, smiling. "But I will of course continue to do my political work."
If Jaafari were to become prime minister, he is likely to bring a more Islamic approach to the job after six months under the secular leadership of Allawi.
However, it remains to be seen how much Islamic influence there will be because the Shia's power is likely to be checked by the more secular minded Kurds, whose powerful showing in the election put them in a kingmaker role.
Allawi said any decision on whether he participates in the government would depend on whether his coalition is involved. It is not ruled out that his coalition could still try to put him forward for prime minister, although it is unlikely.
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