BAGHDAD - In Iraq, where religion and politics have become nearly inseparable, can a secular politician be prime minister?

The question has moved to the heart of Iraq's complex politics after a coalition led by secular Shiite Ayad Allawi emerged as the biggest vote winner in last month's elections, winning 91 of the legislature's 325 seats, edging out a bloc led by the incumbent, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, by only two seats.

Allawi served as prime minister in post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, but that was only because he was handpicked by the Americans when they formally ended their occupation of the country in June 2004.