Maliki insists Iraq will not slide into civil war

Speaking on BBC radio ahead of a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Maliki he would discuss ways of improving Iraqi security during talks in London.

"There is a sectarian issue, but the political leaders ... are working on putting an end to the sectarian issue," he said. "Civil war will not happen to Iraq."

Maliki confirmed recent UN data showing that an average of 100 civilians were killed a day during May and June and said disarming militias was key to a more stable future for Iraq.

"We have reached an agreement in the government that we will have to confront them (the militias) and deal with them. This is the security vision that we have. We are confident that we will confront the terrorism and violence that is in Iraq."

After talks with Blair on Monday, Maliki is due to travel to Washington to meet President George W. Bush on Tuesday, where he is also expected to discuss ways of improving security in Baghdad. It is Maliki's first trip outside the Middle East since he formed his unity government two months ago.

Fresh US troops are being brought into Baghdad to stabilise the city after six weeks of a joint US-Iraqi security plan failed to quell a surge in sectarian violence, US officers confirmed.

The exact number and designations of the troops have not been revealed, but units that were originally due to be sent elsewhere in the war-torn country are now being diverted to the capital.

"They've been redirected to Baghdad," said US Major Scott Coulson. "Where they were going before, they're not going now."