BAGHDAD, December 29, 2004 : Insurgents killed at least 32 policemen, in multiple attacks across the country on Tuesday and a militant group claimed to have executed eight Iraqi employees of an American security company, saying they had collaborated with US forces.

As violence against security forces escalates ahead of January 30 parliamentary elections, the lawmakers called upon the people to forge unity, while the US military announces to beef up security in Baghdad.

Sixteen Iraqi policemen were killed in attacks in and around Tikrit, the hometown of Saddam Hussein. Gunmen attacked a police station there, overwhelmed 13 Iraqi policemen, slit their throats and then blew up the building, police official Lt-Col Saad Hamoud said. Outside Tikrit, three policemen were killed in an attack on their checkpoint.

Six guardsmen were killed and 18 others wounded when a car driven by a suicide bomber exploded in their midst, while they were aiding a patrol from the force that had hit a roadside bomb earlier southwest of Baquba," said a doctor at the Baqouba’s main hospital. In the city itself, unidentified gunmen assassinated Capt Na’em Muhanad Abdullah, a local police commander, and wounded three other men, a spokesman said.

Four policeman and a national guardsmen were shot dead at a police station in Ishaki, south of Samarra. Another three guardsmen and three civilians were killed in a car bomb attack targeting a US-Iraq military convoy, hospital sources said.

In another strike there, a suicide attacker detonated his car at the city centre, wounding 10 people, including three children. Shortly after the explosion, people were told through mosques loud speakers to stay indoor because of a curfew has been clamped on the town and US and Iraq troops have set up roadblocks.

Also in Samarra, US troops killed three rebels when they attacked an American post with small-arms and rocket propelled grenades, the US military said. There were no injuries to US soldiers or damage to equipment.

The deputy governor of the restive Anbar province, Moayyad Hardan al-Issawi, was assassinated near Ramadi, east of Baghdad, police official Abdel Qader al-Kubeisy said. Gunmen who shot him left a statement, signed by the Mujahedeen al-Anbar group, next to his body: "This is the fate of everyone who deals with the American troops."

Elsewhere, a suicide bomber was killed and six people wounded in an attacks against the convoy of an Iraqi national guard general Modher Abud as he was leaving his home in Baghdad, the interior ministry said. Another policeman was killed in Balad, when insurgents opened fire on security forces guarding a voter registration centre.

A car bomb exploded in Muradiya, 30 kms northeast of Baghdad, killing five civilians and wounding dozens. In Mosul, a gunman attacked a police station in the Hadbaa district, killing a policeman.

Militants released a videotape, saying they have executed eight and released two Iraqis, who were employed by the Sandi Group, an American security company, and had been held hostage since December 13.

The insurgents claiming to represent three Iraqi militant groups, the Mujahedeen Army, the Black Banner Brigade and the Mutassim Bellah Brigade, said in the tape obtained by APTN that "the eight have been executed because it was proven that they were supporting the occupational army." The other two will be released for the lack of evidence, a statement read by one of the militants.

Meanwhile, a Puerto Rican soldier was killed in Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded in Baghdad on Monday, the US Army said, while a British soldier was found dead from a gunshot at Shaibah Logistic Base near Basra on Sunday, the defence ministry said in London.

With the insurgency mainly targeting US troops, Iraqi officials and security forces escalates ahead of January 30 parliamentary elections, Iraqi lawmakers appealed for national unity, fearing the militants could trigger civil war. "The terrorists intend to destroy Iraq’s national unity," said a statement issued by the Interim National Assembly. "The response to these acts needs national awareness and strong unity between all Iraqis," said the temporary legislature.

Brig-Gen Jeffery Hammond, assistant commander of the troops controlling Baghdad, said attacks by insurgents are expected to escalate further in the run-up to the ballot. "We anticipate that the enemy will (continue with) attacks, intimidation, assassinations and other messages designed to destroy life in Baghdad," Hammond said, adding that Iraqi security forces will bear the brunt of providing security for the elections and that US troops will back them up only if needed. Hammond said an extra 5,000 US troops have been deployed in Baghdad, adding that security has been stepped up at all military bases in the capital in the wake of the Mosul bombing.