Iraq casualties rise sharply amid political vacuum

[IndianaGreen]

Iraq is another "success" story, while the US keeps the equivalent of 3 mechanized Army divisions in country to "train" the Iraqi military.

1 August 2010 Last updated at 11:58 ET

Iraq casualties rise sharply amid political vacuum

July was Iraq's deadliest month for more than two years, figures show, amid fears insurgents are exploiting a political power vacuum left by March's inconclusive elections.

Last month, 535 people were killed and 1,000 injured in bomb blasts or other attacks, official Iraqi figures say.

Insurgent attacks have increased in frequency and ferocity since the polls.

Sunni, Shia and Kurdish factions that won most seats are still bickering over who should be the next prime minister.

Both former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and incumbent Nouri Maliki insist that they are best placed to lead the war-torn country.

March's elections left Mr Allawi's Sunni-backed secular Iraqiyya alliance with 91 seats, just two ahead of Mr Maliki's mainly Shia coalition.

Both are well short of the 163 seats needed to form a government, meaning that some sort of wider coalition will be needed.

People are getting fed up with the stalemate, the BBC's Hugh Sykes reports from Baghdad.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10831069