At least 16 people were killed and dozens injured as attacks continued across Iraq on day that pressure mounted on Iran over claims it is aiding militants.
The Oil Ministry was the focus of attacks today with ten employees were killed in Baghdad by a suicide car bomber, and Ministry guards were killed by gunmen near the northern city of Kirkuk.
In Mosul, gunmen killed a local prison chief and his driver, and US convoys were attacked in Fallujah and Ramadi. The US military has yet to comment on the attack but claimed its offensive in the southwest of the country had led to the killing of six al-Qaeda terrorists and the arrest of 110 suspects.
In Britain, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani met Prime Minister Tony Blair in Downing Street. Afterward, the two men claimed there was evidence of Iranian backing for the insurgents.
Mr Blair said: "What is clear is that there has been new explosive devices used . . . the particular nature of these devices lead us either to Iranian elements or to Hizbullah, because they are similar to the devices used by Hizbullah, which is funded and supported by Iran."
Mr Blair said he could not be positive of Iranian government involvement but added he had made it clear to the Iranians there was no justification for interference from any country in Iraqi affairs other than those covered by UN mandate.
Mr Talabani said the US-led multinational force was not an occupier, and that it would be said it would be a "catastrophe" if British and US troops withdrew early.
He insisted that the continuing violence would not deter ordinary Iraqis from turning out to vote in the referendum next week or in the parliamentary elections planned for December.
He also played down speculation about a rift between himself and his prime minister, Ibrahim Jaafari, although he did not deny they had differences.
Agencies