At least 21 people were killed in a string of attacks on Sunday alone, shattering a period of relative calm that followed US-led assaults on Sunni Muslim rebel-held cities.

In Washington, Yawar insisted the vote could be held on January 30 as planned if the international community provided sufficient support.

"We are asking the United Nations, the whole international community, to help us," Yawar told NBC television. "We do not think that postponing elections or delaying it will solve the problem."

Yawar was to meet with US President George W. Bush on Monday to discuss Iraq's future, especially security issues and relations with the United States, which is planning to boost troop numbers to 150,000 for the elections.

Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, meanwhile, was due in Moscow for the first time since taking office six months ago in the hope of soothing tensions over Russia's opposition to the US-led war.

A senior UN official had warned at the weekend that elctions could not be held in the current climate of violence, backing calls by Sunni Muslim politicians in Iraq.

Lakhdar Brahimi, a special advisor to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and until recently UN envoy in Iraq, said the January 30 vote could only take place "if first and foremost security improves."

By early January, the United States is to increase the number of troops to about 150,000 from 138,000, the highest number since it declared an end to major combat in Iraq. The aim is to ensure the election process runs smoothly.

The weekend attacks mainly members of the Iraqi security forces, the US-led forces and their allies.

On Sunday, 17 Iraqis working for the US military in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit were killed when men in two pick-up trucks raked their minibuses with a hail of bullets.