At least 554 Iraqis died in Iraq last month, data from a number of ministries showed Thursday, the lowest death toll since an attack on a shrine in February 2006 unleashed violence across the nation. In February 2006, the death toll was 637.
Data from the interior, defense and health ministries indicated that another 333 bodies were found across the country, many of whom were killed in previous months. According to AFP, the bloodshed peaked in January 2007 with 1,992 deaths reported by the three ministries.
Last month, 425 civilians, 116 policemen and 13 soldiers were killed, while another 144 civilians, 180 policemen and 39 soldiers were injured, the figures showed. Iraqi deaths amounted to 840 in September, according to the ministries, less than half the August total of 1,770.
Officials claim that in Baghdad and its surrounding areas violence has significantly reduced in the past few months after the launch of Operation Fardh al-Qanoon (Imposing Law) in February. The operation was backed by some of the extra 28,500 US troops deployed in Iraq as part of the "surge" ordered by President George W. Bush.
