|
Baghdad: Iraqi casualty figures are at their highest levels since mid-2007, according to government figures released on Tuesday.
Violent civilian deaths shot up 31 percent to 923 in March, compared to the previous month, mainly due to the spike in fighting between Iraqi security forces and Shiite militiamen in Basra.
Hundreds died in last week’s clashes, which was sparked by Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s crackdown on fighters loyal to the firebrand Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr.
Violence has fallen since last summer when the US military added an extra 30,000 troops and Al Sadr declared a ceasefire.
However, analysts warn fighting could easily spike again ahead of provincial elections later in the year.
|
