BAGHDAD: Iraq's prime minister Ayad Allawi faces a tough battle to keep his job following the election results. Despite having the advantages of an incumbent, his list of candidates came third with slightly less than 14% of the votes , though he could still emerge from backroom deal-making as a compromise choice to run the country.

Although Allawi has had some opportunities to play the role of world statesman, such as playing host to Tony Blair in Baghdad and addressing Congress, he seems to have been unable to translate that into electoral success.

His campaign, on which he reportedly spent $4 million, was one of the slickest. Despite security problems, he managed to do some campaigning around the country and offered traditional inducements to voters, such as promising to create 250,000 jobs in Baghdad.

More controversially, his campaign sent food baskets to Baghdad's poor (with a political message attached) and handed out gifts and cash to Iraqi journalists. As a secular Shia and an ex-Ba'athist who fled into exile and then won backing from the CIA and British intelligence, he has at some time made friends - and enemies - with just about everyone.

Since becoming caretaker prime minister he has cultivated a tough-guy image - Saddam without the moustache - as some Iraqis refer to him. His backing for military offensives against rebellious cities has won him credit in some places, but others note how much he has had to rely on the Americans and how his approach has not brought the country any closer to stability.

His brief tenure has also put Iraq on familiar ground in other areas, with a recent report by Human Rights Watch accusing the new Iraqi police of systematic torture. But Mr Allawi's secularism appeals to Iraqis who fear attempts to impose strict Islamic rules, either by militant Sunnis or the majority Shias. -Dawn/The Guardian News Service.