Violence killed 1,000 in Iraq: UN
Baghdad: Violence killed one thousand people in July, government and United Nations figures show, making it Iraq’s deadliest month since 2008 when the country was emerging from a bloody sectarian conflict.
Iraq was racked by a bloody Sunni-Shiite sectarian conflict that peaked in 2006-2007, when thousands of people were killed because of their religious affiliation or forced to abandon their homes under threat of death.
“I reiterate my urgent call on Iraq’s political leaders to take immediate and decisive action to stop the senseless bloodshed, and to prevent these dark days from returning,” Busztin said.
According to Iraqi government figures, 989 people were killed in July, including 778 civilians. More than 1,350 civilians were wounded in attacks, according to the figures compiled by the health, interior and defence ministries.
The figures make July the deadliest month since April 2008, when 1,428 people were killed. The UN for its part put the toll for July at 1,057 people killed and 2,109 wounded.
