Iraq death toll in 2009 lowest since the invasion

The number of people killed across Iraq in December was 367 and the civilian death toll in 2009 was 2,800, making the year the least violent since the US-led invasion of 2003, officials said on Friday.

By (AFP)

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Published: Fri 1 Jan 2010, 4:25 PM

Last updated: Wed 19 Feb 2020, 3:46 PM

According to figures from the defence, interior and health ministries, 306 civilians, 48 police officers and 13 soldiers were killed last month. In addition, 48 insurgents were killed and another 635 arrested.
The figures put the number of wounded during the month at 1,288.
December's toll was three times higher than the previous month, which was the least violent since 2003 with 122 killed.
According to figures compiled by AFP, the total number of civilians killed in 2009 was 2,800. Despite a series of massive attacks targeting government buildings in Baghdad, it was still the least violent year since 2003.
The tolls supplied by the authorities are well below figures published on Friday by Iraq Body Count, an independent body which tracks the number of civilians killed as a result of violence.
In a report, it said violence fell dramatically in 2009 but added that improvements in security appear to have levelled off and insurgents have shifted tactics to larger-scale bombings.
The British-based group said that overall, 4,497 civilians were killed as a result of violence until December 16, less than half of 2008's total of 9,226.
Last year also saw the lowest toll among US personnel since the invasion, with 150 deaths as against 314 in 2008 and 904 in 2007.
A total of 4,371 American soldiers have died in Iraq since 2003, according to an AFP count based on data from the independent icasualties.org website.
 


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