Allawi fights to stay on in new government

Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi sought to widen his support base yesterday in a bid to keep his job and lead the country's next government. Mr Allawi is one of two men in the frame for the post, the other being Islamist Shi'ite politician Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

Mr Jaafari is the clear front runner, having won the backing on Tuesday of Iraq's most powerful political alliance.

But Mr Allawi, a secular Shi'ite who has ruled the country for the past eight months, has refused to throw in his hand and said yesterday he had pulled together support from outside his own political list.

He did not specify who his new backers were, saying only that they were "brothers from smaller lists" than his own, who won a handful of seats in last month's election.

"(Those who) won the elections are still discussing the main nominees for the posts - the five posts including the presidency, his deputies and the prime minister," he said.