APRIL IRAQ’S DEADLIEST MONTH SINCE 2008, UN SAYS

       Baghdad, 24 Jumadil Akhir 1434/4 May 2013 (MINA) – A new report by the United Nations says April has been the deadliest month in Iraq since 2008 acts killed over 700 people across the country.
       According to figures released by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Thursday (2/5), a total of 712 people died and some 1, 633 others were wounded in acts throughout Iraq in April.
      The UN mission to Iraq also said in a statement that 595 of those killed and 1,438 of the injured were civilians, while the rest of the casualties were among Iraqi security forces.

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      “Baghdad was the worst affected governorate, with a total of 697 civilian casualties, followed by Diyala, Salahuddin, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Anbar,” the statement added.
       Sources differ on the casualty tolls in Iraq. Other reports said more than 400 were killed in April, Press TV quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting..
       There has been a surge of violence in Iraq since April 23, when security forces clashed with fighters and anti-government protesters in several towns and cities, including Ramadi and Hawija near the northern city of Kirkuk.
       On April 29, Iraqi security officials said over 35 people were killed and dozens of others wounded in a series of car bomb attacks that targeted mostly cities and districts in Iraq.
      On Thursday, Martin Kobler, the special representative of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Iraq, urged Iraqi officials to adopt decisive measures to end the escalating violence.
      Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki also called for unity among the people of Iraq on April 25, warning of plots to drag the country into a sectarian conflict. (T/P09/E1).

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Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).