The US military predicted yesterday that violence would increase around Iraq as final results from last monthâs elections are released and political groups forge ahead with forming a new government. Brig. Gen. Donald Alston, spokesman for the US-led coalition force, said in Baghdad that a series of âhorrific attacksâ that left at least 500 people dead since the Dec. 15 elections were an indication that insurgents were trying to take the opportunity of the transition to a new government in an effort destabilize the democratic process. âAs democracy advances in the form of election results and government formation, and as the military pressure continues, and the pressure generated by political progress increases, we expect more violence across Iraq,â he said at a news briefing. Final election results are expected to be released early next week. Alston said that as a new government starts coming together âthose committed to seeing democracy fail will see this time of transition as an opportunity to attack the innocent people of Iraq.â