Iyad Allawi today admitted that the escalating violence ahead of Sunday's Iraqi elections made a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops "futile and dangerous".

The Iraqi interim Prime Minister spoke as a total of 11 police officers were shot dead in gun battles with militants, and a senior judge was among a number of public figures to be assassinated. Soon after, an insurgent video showed an American citizen being held hostage by militants and pleading for his life.

Dr Allawi said he would not try to pretend that the violence was unimportant.

"I will not deal with the security matter under political pretexts and exaggerations that do not serve Iraq and its people," he said.

But he added that the weekend elections would be the first step toward building an Iraq capable of functioning without the presence of foreign troops. He said: "Large parts of our country have good security and many of our forces are taking more responsibilities in the provinces. They are getting ready to take responsibility from multinational forces soon."

There has been speculation that the new Iraqi government might ask the Americans to begin negotiations for their departure from the country, as demanded by Sunni Arab insurgents, as well as members of the Sunni clergy. Many Sunni Arabs are expected to boycott the elections, either to express opposition to the process or for fear of reprisals.

In a 60-second video Roy Hallums, who was abducted in November by gunmen in Baghdad, is seen pleading for his life and appealing to Arab rulers including Colonel Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, to intercede to spare his life.

Mr Hallums, 56, was seized with Robert Tarongoy of the Philippines while working for a Saudi catering company contracted to the Iraqi army. On the tape, Mr Hallums, with a rifle pointed at his head, says: "I am please asking for help because my life is in danger because it’s been proved I worked for American forces.

"I’m not asking for any help from President Bush because I know of his selfishness and unconcern for those who’ve been pushed into this hellhole."

He says he is asking for help from "Arab rulers especially President Moammar Gaddafi because he’s known for helping those who are suffering".

Fighting erupted in the Rashad neighborhood in the east of Baghdad, as Iraqi police fired on insurgents who were handing out leaflets warning people not to vote in Sunday’s national elections. Nearby insurgents opened fire on police who were checking a report of a possible car bomb. Seven police died in the ambush.

A bomb blew off the gate of a school in the same area, and gunmen opened fire on Iraqi and US forces responding to the blast. Two policemen and an insurgent were killed.

Meanwhile Qais Hashim Shameri, secretary general of the judges council in the Justice Ministry, died when attackers sprayed his car with bullets. A district council worker was also shot dead in western Baghdad as he was on his way to work.

And in a third ambush gunmen firing from a speeding car seriously wounded three staff from the Communications Ministry, including one woman. Attackers also shot dead the son of an Iraqi translator working with US troops.

Edward Chaplin, British Ambassador to Iraq, said that most Iraqis wanted to vote in Sunday's election and would not be deterred from exercising their democratic right.

He said the interim government and international security forces had introduced a number of measures intended to give voters the confidence to go to polling stations.

"Don't underestimate the determination of Iraqis to seize this opportunity. They understand that this is important because the elected assembly will write the new constitution and that's crucial," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "People are going to be determined not to be put off."

Mr Chaplin said insurgents were trying to derail the political process, but that they formed a small minority. Nevertheless, the damage they could do and the intimidation they could exert, particularly in Sunni parts of the country, was much greater than their numbers.

"I do get around the country and there's no doubting what real Iraqis want: a real move forward from the years of misery under Saddam Hussein, accountable government and a new constitution. I don't think the insurgency is going to stop them and we're here to make sure they don't," he said in Baghdad.

"(Insurgents' leader) Musab al-Zarqawi said democracy was the enemy of Iraq. In fact, it is the other way round. The Iraqis want to choose what form of democracy they want to have. They want to have an assembly to create a constitution."

The violence would not cease after the election but after January 30 Mr Chaplin believed it would be more difficult for insurgents to claim that there was not a legitimate government and assembly.

"What we are about here is supporting a political process which is designed to create institutions which didn't exist before - an accountable government, NGOs (non-governmental organisations), a free press - which will make these sorts of abuses less likely in the future, we hope."

The ambassador would not be drawn on how long British troops were likely to remain in Iraq. "We will be here for as long as we are needed, and that is up to the new Iraqi government," Mr Chaplin said.

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