In Seoul, the foreign ministry revealed a South Korean diplomat had been kidnapped briefly by Iraqi gunmen as a warning against its continued involvement in the US-led occupation, as foreign missions continued to draw down their personnel in the face of the bloodiest week since the invasion.

Security was tight across Baghdad as Iraqis flocked to the first Friday prayers of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, following the warning from the US consular office that there "rumours" new violence was pending.

"There are a number of rumours of a 'day resistance' throughout Baghdad on Saturday and Sunday, November 1 and 2," the US statement said.

"US citizens are encouraged to continue to maintain a high level of vigilance and continue to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness."

Washington has now lost 117 troops in action since it declared major combat over on May 1, more than it lost during the six-week spring invasion.

A wave of almost simultaneous car bombings killed 43 people and wounded more than 200 here Monday, launching a week of violence that has prompted an array of international organizations to review their presence in Iraq.

In a rare fillip for the US-led occupation amid the spiralling bloodshed, the US House of Representatives early Friday approved a huge appropriations bill including 18.6 billion dollars of relief and reconstruction aid for Iraq.

The bill was passed by 298 votes to 121 and now moves on to the Senate where it is expected to be put to the vote next week.

Late Wednesday, a congressional reconciliation committee had rejected moves to require half of the aid to be repaid from Iraqi oil revenues, although it did trim 1.7 billion dollars from the package originally requested by President George W. Bush.