Security in Iraq has improved since the transfer of sovereignty, the prime minister's human rights envoy to the country has said.

Speaking on Monday, Ann Clwyd said there was a mood of optimism among the Iraqi public following the formal end of the coalition occupation.

The Labour MP is currently visiting Baghdad for talks with Iraqi ministers.

"I was here at the end of May, before the handover, and several times a day in Baghdad I would hear explosions," she told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

"I have heard nothing since I have been here over the past few days. According to the Iraqis themselves, they think that the violence in Baghdad has died down and they are quite encouraged."

Later this week a national convention is due to be held, which will see decisions taken on the membership of a 100-strong interim parliament.

"This conference is really important. There is a great deal of excitement all over Iraq about this," said Clwyd.

Clamp down

With violence continuing in parts of Iraq, she also backed Iraqi prime minister Ayad Allawi's clamp down on insurgents and qualified her criticism of the death penalty.

"People expect Ayad Allawi to do something about the security situation, because security is still the number one consideration here," Clywd added.

"If he has to take tough measures, I don't think the majority of Iraqis would oppose them.

"I am opposed to the death penalty and so is the British government, and that point has been made many times over to the Iraqis.

"At the same time, Iraqis do feel that, as far as the top 12 [former leaders under Saddam Hussein] are concerned, the death penalty must be a consideration.

"That will be up to a court and a jury to decide when the trial starts."

Clywd also slammed the Philippines government for deciding to withdraw its troops from Iraq in order to save the life of one of its nationals who had been kidnapped by militants and threatened with execution.

"I don't think it is very helpful to have done that, because it does give a message to the terrorists," she warned.

"I think it was a bad thing to do because it encourages the terrorists who will kidnap even more people."