Photo Gallery 'I Was Covered in My Own Blood'
Iraqi opposition leader and former interim prime minister Ayad Allawi believes the Americans robbed him of power during the last election. Speaking of this Wednesday's election, in which he is a major candidate, he says, "Let's wait and see what happens in the election. If it's transparent and fair, and we still lose, I'll accept it."
Boys inspect the site of a car bomb explosion in Baghdad's Sadr City district on April 22. "The whole country is in turmoil," Allawi told SPIEGEL. "The security situation is getting worse every day, not just because of the terrorists' bombs, but also as a result of mass arrests. No one is safe anymore."
Residents walk in front of election campaign posters in central Baghdad. "It could turn into a neck-and-neck race," Allawi said. "I see my movement as a third force, alongside the Kurds, who are strong in their part of the country. In truly free elections, we could even win."
