America has increased its troop numbers in Iraq to their highest levels since the war ended, it emerged today.

Home leave has been delayed for several months for tens of thousands US soldiers, in preparation for the January elections and the impending attack on Fallujah.

Lengthening the tours of duty, coupled with the arrival of new detachments, such as the 256th Enhanced Separate Brigade, a 3,500 strong cavalry unit, have brought American troop numbers up to 142,000.

The gradual concentration of forces comes amid continued high levels of violence by militants opposed to the US occupation and all those who co-operate with it.

Today Hatem Kamil Abdul Fatah, the deputy governor of Baghdad province in the interim Iraqi administration, was assassinated by gunmen in the capital. His car was rammed as he went past a mosque. He was shot dead and two of his bodyguards were wounded.

The Army of Ansar al-Sunna, an Iraqi militant group, claimed responsibility for the killing, saying that it had carried out "God’s judgment on the apostate"

America is hoping to stamp out some of the main centres of resistance by its planned attack on lawless Sunni Muslim territory west of Baghdad.

The heartland of the resistance is said to centre around the towns of Fallujah and Ramadi, 110km (70 miles) west of Baghdad. US army commanders have claimed that up to 5,000 Islamic militants, Saddam Hussein loyalists and common criminals are holed up there.

The attack is expected to start soon after the American presidential elections, but as US troops build up in the area there are already frequent clashes.

Three people died in Ramadi this morning, including Dhia Najim, 55, a Reuters cameraman, who was shot in the head as he filmed heavy fighting between US troops and militants. A US Marine died in a bomb blast in Ramadi yesterday, and nine US Marines died near Fallujah over the weekend.

The British troops of the Black Watch, who have moved up to Camp Dogwood and will be patrolling south and west of Baghdad, will also play a part in the attack, by cutting off the rebels' cross-country supply lines between Fallujah, Ramadi and the capital.

In theory, it is the Iraqi interim government which will give the go-ahead for the American army to attack.

Iyad Allawi, the interim prime minister, said yesterday that efforts to resolve the stand-off in Fallujah peacefully have entered their "final phase", and that his patience is running short before launching "a military solution" to Sunni insurgents’ hold over the city.

In a speech that seemed aimed at preparing the Iraqi public for an onslaught, Dr Allawi warned of civilian casualties, saying that if he orders an assault, it would be with a "heavy heart", because "there will be some loss of innocent lives".

"But I owe, owe it to the Iraqi people to defend them from the violence and the terrorists and insurgents," he said.

Four rockets were fired at Black Watch troops yesterday landing inside their Camp Dogwood base, 25 miles south of Baghdad. No-one was hurt.

The Black Watch has faced daily bombardment since arriving on Friday to take over patrols in the US-controlled area. None has caused injury or significant damage, but the attacks show that resistance fighters are training their sights on the newly arrived troops.

The Black Watch battlegroup has been charged with cutting off supply lines of the Iraqi resistance when the Americans attack Fallujah, British military sources said yesterday.

Meanwhile six weeks of voter registration got under way today in 550 centres around the country. Every Iraqi family arriving to claim food aid was being handed voter forms.

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