Iraq's interim president, Ghazi al-Yawar, has met US president George W Bush in Washington.
Mr Bush told Mr al-Yawar that he is determined that planned elections in Iraq will take place on 30 January as scheduled.
The US President said the elections will give the people of Iraq the chance to be involved in the future of their country.
Mr al-Yawar said recent attacks by insurgents in Iraq were designed to halt the elections. He described the attackers as showing 'hatred to the Iraqi society and hatred to democracy'.
In the past three days, more than 70 people have been killed in continuing violence.
