Past month: 672 Iraqis killed

2005-06-01 13:44

Baghdad - A total of 672 Iraqis were killed in attacks in May according to Iraqi statistics, marking one of the bloodiest months since the United States-led invasion more than two years ago.

Almost 19% more Iraqis died in May than in April, marking a second straight month of sharp escalation in violence, according to ministry statistics compiled on Wednesday.

The surge followed the inauguration on May 8 of Iraq's first democratically elected government since former dictator Saddam Hussein was deposed in April 2003.

In April this year, a total of 567 Iraqis were killed, a 48% leap from the previous month, according to data the Iraqi government began collecting in March.

The number of Iraqis injured in insurgent attacks nearly doubled in May to 1 174 from 668 in April, according to figures provided by the defence, health and interior ministries.

Health ministry data, which concerns only civilian casualties, put the numbers slightly lower, with 434 deaths and 775 casualties in May.

They were caused by 33 car bomb attacks, 17 homemade bombs and 30 armed attacks across the country.

Deaths among government officials also soared as insurgents appeared to target Iraqi leadership. The interior ministry listed 150 of its personnel dead in May and 320 wounded, compared with 98 killed in April.

At the defence ministry, 88 Iraqi soldiers were reported dead and 79 wounded.

Insurgent casualties and arrests rose along with the civilian toll. The defence and interior ministries said 287 insurgents had been killed in May, compared with 64 in April, and 1 827 arrested, against 565 arrests one month earlier.

- AFP