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| UN: 34,000 Iraqis killed in 2006 | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| More than 34,000 civilians were killed in violence in Iraq during 2006, a UN human rights official has said. | More than 34,000 civilians were killed in violence in Iraq during 2006, a UN human rights official has said. |
| The envoy to Iraq, Gianni Magazzeni, said 34,452 civilians were killed and more than 36,000 hurt during the year. | The envoy to Iraq, Gianni Magazzeni, said 34,452 civilians were killed and more than 36,000 hurt during the year. |
| The figure is nearly three times higher than calculations previously made on the basis of Iraqi interior ministry statistics for 2006. | The figure is nearly three times higher than calculations previously made on the basis of Iraqi interior ministry statistics for 2006. |
| Accurate figures are difficult to acquire, and previous UN estimates have been disputed by Baghdad. | Accurate figures are difficult to acquire, and previous UN estimates have been disputed by Baghdad. |
| Mr Magazzeni said his figures were compiled from data collected from the Health Ministry, hospitals and other agencies. | |
| There are no comparable numbers for 2005, but correspondents say the upward trend is clear and supported by evidence from the ground. | |
| Every morning police collect dozens of bodies from the streets of Baghdad. | |
| Most of those killed are victims of sectarian violence between the minority Sunni and majority Shia Muslims. | |
| There are fears violence will only intensify as a result of the circumstances surrounding the execution of Saddam Hussein and his aides, who were from the Sunni community. | |
| The taunting of Saddam in his final moments and the decapitation of his brother-in-law during an apparent accident in the hanging process have drawn intense international criticism. |