You need to call $("[rel=popover]").popover({placement:'left'});
AFTER the elements are in the DOM.
UPDATE
If you are using jQuery
$(element_selector)
// load results into HTML of element_selector
.load('your/php/file')
// when done, initialize popovers
.done(function(){
$("[rel=popover]").popover({placement:'left'});
});
OR a catch all for jQuery ajax requests
$.ajaxComplete(function(){
$("[rel=popover]").popover({placement:'left'});
});