High death toll in Iraq

2009-07-01 22:20

Baghdad  - The month of June witnessed the highest number of deaths from violence in Iraq for 11 months, official figures showed on Wednesday, with 437 people killed across the conflict-hit nation.

Statistics compiled by the defence, interior and health ministries said that 372 civilians, 45 policemen and 20 soldiers died - the highest total since July last year. A total of 465 people were killed in July 2008.

Ministry data also said that 960 civilians, 101 police and 34 soldiers were wounded in June.

The high death toll last month was attributed to several massive bombings. A total of 72 people were killed in the worst explosion near the city of Kirkuk on June 20.

A bombing in the sprawling Shiite slum of Sadr City in Baghdad on June 24 killed 62 people.

Iraq's 500 000 police and 250 000 soldiers are now in sole charge of security in urban areas while most of the 133 000 US troops remaining in the country are based outside towns and cities, following a June 30 handover.

- SAPA