During his stroll around the landmark Abu Nuwas street on Monday, Maliki inspected newly-renovated gardens and chatted to residents and young soccer players, the Premier's office said in a statement.

Maliki was accompanied by Interior Minister Jawad Bolani and other senior officials during his tour of Abu Nuwas, once Baghdad's most prominent street.

More than four years of violence and murder fuelled by the American invasion on Iraq has virtually closed the once-bustling street, with its lines of cinema halls, restaurants and shops now standing empty and deserted.

But despite the insecure and instable conditions the American army has created in the city, Baghdad municipal authorities have recently started reviving Abu Nuwas and have already given the gardens a makeover.

Baghdadis are slowly returning to the gardens and officials say they expect shops to start reopening soon.

During his one-hour visit, Maliki met residents who expressed their grievances, while one mother asked for government aid to assist her son who lost his legs in an explosion.

Maliki also met teenagers playing football on an open field who complained to him about lack of proper facilities.

Popular Iraqi football player Laith Hussain was among those who shook hands with the Prime Minister, a photograph released by Maliki's office showed.

Data from Iraqi ministries said that 887 Iraqis were killed in the month of October, up on the September figure.