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Iraq death toll 'tops 1,000' in July, highest in years | Iraq death toll 'tops 1,000' in July, highest in years |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Casualty figures released by the UN mission in Baghdad suggest 1,057 Iraqis were killed in July, making it the most violent month in years. | |
At least 4,137 civilians have been killed and 9,865 injured so far this year, with Baghdad province worst hit. | At least 4,137 civilians have been killed and 9,865 injured so far this year, with Baghdad province worst hit. |
"The impact of violence on civilians remains disturbingly high," UN Iraq representative Gyorgy Busztin said. | "The impact of violence on civilians remains disturbingly high," UN Iraq representative Gyorgy Busztin said. |
"Iraq's political leaders must take immediate and decisive action to stop the senseless bloodshed," he warned. | "Iraq's political leaders must take immediate and decisive action to stop the senseless bloodshed," he warned. |
A wave of violence has swept Iraq in the last six months, with Sunni Islamist militant groups targeting Shia districts. In July there was a series of bombings in streets, cafes and mosques. Militants also broke into two prisons, setting inmates free. | |
Mr Busztin - in Baghdad as acting special representative for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon - said the toll for July was the highest for more than five years. | |
He characterised the earlier period - the peak of the anti-US insurgency in 2006-07 - as one filled with the "blind rage of sectarian strife". | He characterised the earlier period - the peak of the anti-US insurgency in 2006-07 - as one filled with the "blind rage of sectarian strife". |
Iraq's government must "prevent these dark days from returning," Mr Busztin said. | |
There were 928 civilians killed in July (including 204 civilian police), and 2,109 civilians were injured (including 338 civilian police). A further 129 members of the Iraqi security forces were killed and 217 injured. | |
Baghdad was the worst-affected area, with 957 civilian casualties (238 killed and 719 injured), followed by Salahuddin, Ninewa, Diyala, Kirkuk and Anbar. | |
Many of these provinces are dominated by members of the country's Sunni minority, many of whom resent the Shia-led government that took power after Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003. |