BAGHDAD, Oct 26 (AFP) - Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi warned Tuesday that violence would rise ahead of January polls, as his government said more than 560 people had been killed in suicide attacks between June and September.
"I can tell you we expect more attacks against Iraq," Allawi told the country's interim parliament.
He said the Iraqi government had intelligence that more militants from hardline Islamic groups had infiltrated the insurgents' stronghold of Fallujah, west of the capital.
More than 560 people (eds: correct) have been killed and 1,200 injured in 92 suicide attacks in Iraq in the four months to September, said Interior Minister Falah Naqib, also in an address to parliament.
July was the deadliest month, with 34 attacks which left 245 people dead and 235 injured, he said.
In one of the biggest attacks by insurgents, 70 people were killed in a suicide car bombing at a police station in Baquba, a restive city northeast of Baghdad, on July 28.
Assessing the fledgling police force, the interior minister admitted their ranks had been infiltrated by rebels.
"With the problem of unemployment, a number of the police are on the terrorists' payroll and are ready to attack a tank or a police post in exchange for money," he said.
10/26/2004 13:44 GMT - AFP