BAGHDAD (IRIN) - Two major suicide attacks in February led to a
sharp increase in violence-related civilian deaths that month - up by
more than a third from the previous month, government figures show.
The figures, released by the interior, defence and
health ministries, showed at least 633 civilians were killed or found
dead nationwide compared to 466 in January. At least 701 civilians were
wounded in February.
But the figures are still lower than the over 1,801 civilians killed, and 2,700 wounded, in February 2007.
Iraqi
and US officials said a year-long security operation by the US military
and Iraqi security forces had helped reduce violent incidents by at
least 60 percent in the capital and nearby provinces.
Before
the operation, dozens of dead bodies were being dumped every day in the
streets, and explosions, kidnappings and other attacks were taking
place almost everywhere.
Three factors
According
to Nasser Omar Hassan, a Baghdad-based security analyst, three factors
are widely credited with reducing violence in Iraq over the past six
months: “First, an increase in US troop levels; second, a ceasefire by
radical Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia; and third,
the decision by tens of thousands of Sunni fighters to accept US
funding and turn against al-Qaeda in Iraq.”
“The statistics on
casualties are considered low, and are based only on police reports
[and] I do believe that the actual number is most likely higher, as
many killings go unreported,” he said.
Suicide bombers
On
1 February two female suicide bombers struck in two separate attacks on
two pet markets in Baghdad, killing at least 99 civilians and wounding
up to 200.
Iraqi officials said the suicide bombers were
mentally disabled women with Downs Syndrome. They had 15kg of
explosives strapped to them which were detonated by remote control.
On
24 February a suicide bomber blew himself up among Shia pilgrims taking
a break during their day-long march to a shrine for a major religious
gathering. The blast killed at least 60 people and wounded another 60,
making it one of the deadliest this year.
The suicide bomber
detonated his explosives’ belt at a tent providing food and drinks to
the pilgrims on the southern outskirts of Iskandariyah, about 50km
south of Baghdad.
On 3 March a car bomb in Baghdad killed 15 and injured 35, according to the Iraqi police.
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