Iraq: May deadliest month of 2014, nearly 800 reported dead in violence
Nearly 800 people were killed in violence across Iraq in May, the United Nations said on Sunday, making it the deadliest month so far this year.
A total of 799 people were killed, 196 were members of the Iraqi security forces, and the rest were civilians – often victims of attacks by Sunni terrorists who increasingly gaining strength in the battle torn country.
These UN figures do not include casualties in the western province of Anbar, where the Iraqi army has been fighting tribal and insurgent groups since they overran two cities at the start of the year. (Emphasis added, BBJ, The Dispatch)
The website Iraq Body Count put the monthly civilian death toll across Iraq higher at 1,027, bringing its tally so far this year to 5,055, of which 521 people were killed in Fallujah alone by government forces.
Iraq’s incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki won the largest share of parliamentary seats in national elections last month, dealing a blow to his opponents who blame him for leading the country to ruin.
“I strongly deplore the sustained level of violence and terrorist acts that continues rocking the country,” UN envoy to Iraq Nikolay Mladenov said in a statement.
“I urge the political leaders to work swiftly for the formation of an inclusive government within the constitutionally mandated timeframe and focus on a substantive solution to the situation in Anbar.”
In 2006 and 2007 sectarian Shi’ite-Sunni killings reached their peak, but last year was Iraq’s deadliest since violence began to ease in 2008.