Iraq has emerged as an important issue in this week's historic pan-European election

Iraq has emerged as an important issue in this week's historic pan-European election, with Britain's Tony Blair and others expecting a nasty backlash for supporting the war, and leaders of Spain and Germany hoping to be rewarded for opposing it. From Malta to the Arctic Circle, and from Portugal to the border with Russia, 350 million people are eligible to vote for the parliament of a European Union that recently expanded from 15 nations to 25. Although the European Parliament inspires mostly yawns among voters, its power has steadily increased, and the elections being held Friday through Monday are an important reflection of where the electorate is leaning on a variety of issues. Iraq has figured prominently in campaigning for the 732 seats, especially in Britain, Italy, Spain and Germany, where acrimony over the war and the policies of President Bush has dampened trans-Atlantic relations.