South Korean troops deployed in Iraq's northern Kurdish region of Irbil are on heightened alert after the Iraqi government declared 60 days of emergency rule throughout most of the country on Sunday.

Although the self-governing region of Irbil was excluded from the list of areas subject to the emergency law decree, the Zaitun unit is still preparing for a possible attack by guerillas ahead of the Iraqi elections set for January.

The Zaitun unit has upgraded its terror-alert rating from the previous "amber" to "red," and has banned soldiers from leaving their barracks.

The troops are also working closely with the Kurdistan Regional Government as well as the local militia to gather terror-related intelligence.

Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said Sunday the 60-day emergency rule was declared in order to carry out peaceful and free elections.

Meanwhile, U.S. troops seized a small section of territory in Fallujah ahead of an expected all-out assault on the guerilla sanctuary. Militants killed at least 30 people, including two Americans, in Sunday's attacks.