NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — insurgency — 2006 — 06-aug-dec — Viewing Item

Iraq deaths multiply in new august count Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/07/ap/world/mainD8K037P80.shtml http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/07/ap/world/mainD8K037P80.shtml Iraq Deaths Multiply in New August Count Iraq's revised count of violent deaths in August is 3 times more than it reported last week BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sep. 7, 2006 By RAWYA RAGEH Associated Press Writer (AP) Updated figures from Iraq's Health Ministry show there was no significant decline in violent deaths in Baghdad last month, but the U.S. military insisted Thursday that the murder rate in the capital had fallen by 52 percent. Baghdad recorded more than 1,500 violent deaths in August, according to final figures released this week by the Health Ministry. The final count was roughly the same as the figure the ministry released for July, before the U.S.-led security crackdown began in the Baghdad area. The final figure also was nearly three times the preliminary count released by the same ministry last week. If accurate, the final figures cast doubt on U.S. and Iraqi claims of a significant reduction in the level of violence here since the crackdown was launched Aug. 7. Asked about the latest Iraqi figures Thursday, U.S. spokesman Lt. Col. Barry Johnson referred The Associated Press to a statement on a U.S. military Web site, which said the murder rate in Baghdad dropped 52 percent from the daily rate for July. "The violence Baghdad endured in July receded during the month of August," the statement added. "Attacks in Baghdad were well below the monthly average for July." Deputy Health Minister Hakem al-Zamly this week put the August violent death count for Baghdad at 1,536, based on figures from the city morgue. However, preliminary Health Ministry figures released last week showed violent deaths in August in Baghdad at just 550, according to Dr. Riad Abdul Amir of the ministry's statistics bureau. Iraqi officials could provide no explanation for the difference between the preliminary and final August figures, but it could have resulted in part from a late August surge in deaths. More than 250 people were killed in Baghdad in the final week of the month. Efforts by the AP to contact Amir on Thursday for an explanation were unsuccessful. Accurate figures on the number of people who have died since the Iraq conflict began in March 2003 have long been difficult to obtain. The Health Ministry relies on reports from government hospitals and morgues. Poor phone lines and shortages of trained staff and computers can delay entering death reports into databases, which means the preliminary count may have lagged sharply. But accurate figures are important because Iraqi and U.S. officials _ anxious to demonstrate progress as support for the war declines in the U.S. _ have used them to claim success in curbing violence in Baghdad. Last month, U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell said the murder rate in Baghdad fell by 46 percent from July to August. Iraqi National Security Adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie insisted last week that execution-style killings and sectarian violence had dropped by 45 percent in the last six weeks. MMVI The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

100 americans die in iraq in month { September 2006 } Alqaeda blamed for shia attack in sadr city { November 23 2006 } Alsadr asks sunni leader to stop bloodshed { November 25 2006 } Attack on baghdad slum kills 161 { October 2006 } Attacks in iraq at record high says pentagon { November 2006 } Bombing at bakery kills British control of basra iraq continues { October 2006 } British journalists unlawfully killed by US forces { October 13 2006 } Charity worker slain in iraq { October 10 2006 } Former insurgents now look to US for protection { December 13 2006 } Iraq deaths multiply in new august count Iraq families exodus to escape violence { October 18 2006 } Iraq suicide bomber kills 63 { November 2006 } Iraq to take control of armed forces { August 2006 } Iraqi factions undercut plan to isolate extremists { December 22 2006 } Iraqis launch probe in rape murder of 14 year old { August 23 2006 } Militias splintering into radicalized cells { October 19 2006 } Record 3709 iraqis killed in october 2006 Report says 600k iraqi deaths since war { September 2006 } Sadr city checkpoints to be lifted { September 2006 } Shiite religious leader sistani pushes elections { December 20 2006 } Snipers kill 209 shiite pilgrims in iraq Spike in iraq violence claims 43 lives { September 18 2006 } Thousands mass for anti israel protest US casualties surge amid worsening iraq violence { October 12 2006 } Violence in iraq kills 10 US troops { October 18 2006 } Files Listed: 26

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