BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The number of civilians killed in Iraq fell sharply in June to the lowest monthly total since a U.S.-backed security clampdown was launched in February, Iraqi government figures showed on Sunday.
The data, obtained from the ministries of interior, defence and health, showed 1,227 civilians died violently in June, a 36 percent drop from May.
U.S. military officials said it was premature to draw conclusions about the effects of the crackdown, which is seen as a last ditch effort to avert full-scale sectarian civil war between majority Shi'ites and minority Sunni Arabs.
"We continue to be cautiously optimistic, we are still very early in this process," said U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Garver.
The Iraqi's aren't trying, the Liberals say, and yet they are working toward one of the key benchmarks set out for them with provincial elections.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Provincial Iraqi elections will be held in 2007 as planned, Iraq Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Sunday, referring to a key benchmark set by Washington for the country's political reform.
Funny how the denial based crowd isn't talking about any of this.
Things that make you go hmmmmmmm.
[Update] An interesting piece in Wapo.
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