By Khalid al-Ansary

BAGHDAD, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Iraq's prime minister acknowledged on Friday that the country's police had been infiltrated by sectarian militias, but said they have since improved and evolved into a trusted and professional force.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 87th anniversary of the Iraqi police force, Nuri al-Maliki urged police to steer clear of politics and deal with all citizens of all sects equally.

"Frankly, before there was no confidence (in the police) because of (militia) infiltrations, but great efforts have ended these and closed the doors to those who infiltrated," he said.

"We changed the police from a broken apparatus, based on sectarianism ... into a coherent, professional one."

Violence has fallen sharply across Iraq to levels not seen since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, thanks partly to better policing, especially at key checkpoints, security officials say.

In past years some police units have been regarded by many Iraqis as having links to Shi'ite militias.

Maliki has faced constant criticism from minority Sunni Arabs that he has not done enough to stamp out sectarianism in the security forces. But a crackdown on Shi'ite militias last year won him applause from across Iraq's sectarian divide.

The U.S. military says Iraq's police force has come a long way in the past year and has gained more trust.

Not everyone is convinced, however.

"We're fed up with all the speeches," said Sahar Ali, 44, a Sunni Arab housewife in Baghdad's mostly Sunni Adhamiya district. "Ninety percent of the police is from the other sect (Shi'ite) and I think it's still infiltrated by militias." (Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Peter Graff and Jon Boyle)

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