3,709 civilians killed in Iraq in October
Wednesday, 22 Nov 2006 13:05
Iraqis face sectarian violence on a daily basis
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Almost 4,000 civilians were killed in Iraq during October alone, the highest number recorded since the US-led coalition toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.
The UN assistance mission for Iraq (Unami) says that 3,709 non-combatants died in the troubled Middle East country last month, while 3,345 were killed in September.
Today's report states that sectarian violence is behind the majority of the killings, while influence of armed militia and prevalence of torture are both continuing to rise.
"Hundreds of bodies continued to appear in different areas of Baghdad handcuffed, blindfolded and bearing signs of torture and execution-style killing."
"Many witnesses reported that perpetrators wear militia attire and even police or army uniforms," Unami says.
Based on figures from the Iraqi health ministry, of the 7,054 civilians killed during the last two months, 351 were woman and 110 were children, while 4,984 died in Baghdad alone.
In July and August, official figures said that 6,599 civilians had died in Iraq, statistics that Unami dubbed "unprecedented".
"The civilian population of Iraq continues to be victims of terrorist acts, roadside bombs, drive-by shootings, cross fire between rival gangs, or between police and insurgents, kidnappings, military operations, crime and police abuse," the mission said.
Unami wants the US and coalition forces to reassert its authority to stem the sway that militia groups currently hold over the population.