Iraq toll up 15 percent despite crackdown

[ProSense]

Iraq toll up 15 percent despite crackdown

by Salam Faraj Sun Apr 1, 9:58 AM ET

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The monthly death toll in Iraq rose 15 percent in March, an official revealed Sunday, as insurgents and sectarian militias continue to defy a military crackdown in Baghdad.

At least 2,078 Iraqi civilians, policemen and soldiers died nationwide, 272 more than in February, and grim news for the crackdown launched six weeks ago and billed as a last chance to wrest back control of Baghdad.

But Iraqi President Jalal Talabani still hailed progress in stemming the activities of the Mahdi Army militia of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, regarded by the US military as the most dangerous player in sectarian violence.

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Detailed statistics collected by the defence, interior and health ministries show a significant increase in Iraqi civilian, army and police deaths in March, when more than 80 US military deaths were also recorded.

An average of three more people died each day last month -- 67 compared with 64 in February.

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[flyarm]

1. well dog gone it..i thought McCain said things were just rosey in Iraq??

and we all know McCain would never lie to us..don't we??

april fools....


or McCain fools ...


is he walking the streets now in Bagdad?? ( fully guarded i am sure..pitiful pig he is!!


fly

[Forkboy]

2. Hey Bush was right...a surge in deaths is still a surge,

so by their logic this has already been a success!

[mwb970]

3. What about Tommy Thpmpson's idea?

He suggested this morning on This Week that we ask the Iraqi government to take a vote on whether they want us there and in what capacity, and then abide by it. I'm not sure I'd heard that one before.

[Unvanguard]

4. Nice. What a brilliant success.

And so the slaughter continues.

[sutz12]

5. Shouldn't that read "because of"....nt