BAGHDAD, May 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Iraq's new government extended Friday state of emergency for 30 days except for the Kurdish regionin the north.

   The extension was effective as of Friday, Prime Minister Ibrahimal-Jaafari's office said in a statement, citing the "persistence of the conditions that justified the state of emergency."   The state of emergency gives the government the right to impose curfews, issue arrest warrants and restrict movement in the country.

   The new measure came amid mounting attacks by insurgents thathave killed  more than 400 people since the announcement of Jaafari's cabinet two weeks ago.  Enditem