Allawi recently met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Jordan's King Abdullah II, spoke with US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair and is to head to Egypt to meet President Hosni Mubarak.

Not bad for a mere MP.

"It's very important to keep Iraq plugged into the family of nations," he told AFP.

Former exile Allawi's Iraqi List came a distant third in January's vote, behind resurgent religious Shiites and Kurds, ending his seven months as the US-appointed head of Iraq's interim government.

An active role

Now, the man known for his links with the CIA is taking an active role in Iraq's destiny, and informing his political superiors afterwards.

In Damascus, he says, Assad was receptive to the idea of setting up a UN-enforced buffer zone along Syria's border with Iraq in the hope of stemming the alleged flow of militants into the strife-torn country.

Allawi discussed the idea with US State Department officials in Amman, one of whom was "impressed", and then wrote to Iraq's prime minister and president about "pursuing these issues".

The politician, once dubbed "Saddam Lite", insists he is always open to dialogue. He is also seen as one of the few able to alternately reach a hand across the sectarian divide or use a fist to crush insurgents.

Preparing his “slate”

Allawi is now busy restructuring his Iraqi National Accord party and preparing his "slate" for elections due in December, provided the country can draw up a new constitution by August 15.

The committee currently drafting the document has the option of instituting one six-month delay, which would have an unfortunate knock-back effect on elections.

Allawi hopes this will not happen "for the sake of the nation," he says, but such a move would also be a blow to his personal political ambitions.

As well as drawing Iraq's disenfranchised minorities into the drafting process, other problems must be dealt with, he says, such as the role of Islam in law and Iraq's federal status.

"Frankly there are not that many divisive points ... but they should be the focus. We should reach agreement on them and then deal with those we already agree on."

Alternatively, Iraq could follow the American route of drawing up a basic constitution to which amendments are then made after national elections.

"The problem is how to use the constitution to cement national unity, bridge differences and to come up with a civilised, modern, secular constitution which caters for everything and everybody in Iraq," Allawi said.

Secular Allawi

Staunchly secular, Allawi says that Islam should be inscribed as "a source" of future laws.

When it comes to Iraq's federal future, he says several provinces are already going too far.

"Some governorates (provinces) are talking to Iraq's neighbours to forge cultural, economic and trade agreements between their province and neighbouring countries," he says, declining to say who is involved.

"You can imagine (what will happen) if this continues. That's why it is important for federalism in the constitution to have a definition."

When Allawi was replaced as premier by religious Shiite Ibrahim Jaafari, some commentators said it was a good time to be in opposition, given the government's thankless task of facing down the bloody insurgency.

But as Allawi points out, Iraq's democracy is too young to know the meaning of opposition. There is, for instance, no shadow cabinet.

"We are not evolved democratically as in the West ... Democracy here is very new and very young."

Looking ahead

So Allawi is looking ahead to the next poll, holding a national conference to make deals with those who want to come on board — especially the many who feel they lost out in January's polls.

"The national conference is aimed at... bringing people into the tent not keeping them outside. It will be constructive. I hope it will happen at the end of July. We have already approached parties and players."

He also feels that a current anti-corruption drive is politically motivated, with several of his former ministers named in the press, although no charges have been brought.

"I oppose levelling accusations against people in the media. Once you have firm evidence you can take it to the courts," he says, adding that Jaafari's government seems strangely focused on his administration.

"Corruption has existed for decades and definitely existed after the liberation (in April 2003), under the (Coalition Provisional Authority). Why on earth is there only corruption during (Allawi's time in office) and not in the 18 months that preceded? It's very strange."

Allawi says he himself called for three of his ministers to be investigated, but he won't name them.

"I feel there is an element of vengeance here," he says. "Why not bring to trial the chairman of the ex-Central Bank of Iraq or the ex-chairman of the Raffadin Bank, who were totally corrupt?"

AFP