Allawi Loss In Baghdad Elections

Renewed Violence Prompts Post-Election Pessimism

By John Daniszewski, Times Staff Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Two weeks after Iraq's first democratic election, hopes that the country's future will improve have given way in some quarters to pessimism, or at least to more limited expectations, as resurgent violence and a delay in the final tally have added to political uncertainty.

Western and Iraqi officials said they have seen a slight diminution in violence against coalition forces. But a string of attacks directed mainly at Shiite Muslims and Kurds have killed scores of civilians and shattered hopes that a significant portion of insurgents would desist now that a contested election has taken place.

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