Over 1000 killed in violence during May in Iraq

Baghdad: More than 1,000 people were killed in attacks in Iraq during May in the worst spike in violence since the country’s sectarian civil war five years ago, according to the United Nations on Saturday.

Growing violence has accompanied worsening tensions between the country’s Shiite Muslim leaders and the Sunni minority who have held months of protests demanding an end to what they perceive as the marginalization of their sect.

Invigorated by the mainly Sunni revolt in neighbouring Syria and by Iraqi Sunni Muslim discontent at home, al Qaeda’s local wing and other Sunni armed groups are regaining ground lost during the long battle with U.S. troops.