Last month, 535 people were killed and 1,000 hurt in bombings or other attacks, Iraq said, although the US insisted the tolls were much lower.

Insurgent attacks have increased since inconclusive elections in March.

Sunni, Shia and Kurdish factions that won most seats are still bickering over who should be the next prime minister.

Both former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and incumbent Nouri Maliki insist that they are best placed to lead the war-torn country.

March's elections left Mr Allawi's Sunni-backed secular Iraqiyya alliance with 91 seats, just two ahead of Mr Maliki's mainly Shia coalition.

Both are well short of the 163 seats needed to form a government, meaning that some sort of wider coalition will be needed.

It is very hot - above 50C (122F) some days - but there are incessant power cuts, and there have already been street demonstrations complaining about the failure to provide enough electricity for fans, air conditioners and fridges.

And violence is beginning to re-occupy the political vacuum.