Iraqi Casualties at Highest Level since August

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

Iraqi casualties at highest level since August

Randy Fabi
Reuters US Online Report Top News

Apr 01, 2008 09:12 EST

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Fighting between security forces and Shi'ite militiamen last month has driven civilian deaths in Iraq to their highest level in more than six months, government figures showed on Tuesday.

A total of 923 civilians were killed in March, up 31 percent from February and the deadliest month since August 2007, according to data compiled by Iraq's interior, defense and health ministries and obtained by Reuters. The figures are a blow to the Iraqi government and the United States, which have pointed to reduced overall levels of violence in recent months as evidence that a major security offensive has made significant progress.

Hundreds of people were killed and many more wounded in last week's fighting after Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered a crackdown on Shi'ite militiamen in the southern city of Basra. Many of the dead were civilians caught in the crossfire.

- snip -

In Baghdad's Sadr City, the slum of 2 million people that forms the cleric's main stronghold in the capital and location of much of last week's combat, the situation was tense but there were no reports of major clashes. The Red Crescent said U.S. and Iraqi security forces prevented a convoy carrying food, blood and medicine supplies from entering the area due to the security situation.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/Iraqi_casualties_at_highest_level_s_04012008.html

[LynnTheDem]

1. WOW!!! What a total

"SUCCESS"!

:eyes:

[saigon68]

2. "Freedom and Democracy are on the March", the Chimp

[Supersedeas]

3. nothing to see here -- the Media has a script and the script reads 'progress'

[lonestarnot]

4. War on fucking sanity!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

5. Exactly!

:thumbsup: