The number of Iraqis killed in violence last month was nearly double the toll for January, authorities said Monday. The figures compiled by the health, interior and defense ministries showed that 352 Iraqis -- 211 civilians, 96 police and 45 troops -- died as a result of attacks in February. The figure represents an 80 percent rise over January's toll of 196 dead.
According to AFP, February death toll is around 40 percent higher than the same month last year. In addition, 684 people were hurt, including 414 civilians, 155 police and 115 soldiers, according to the figures. A total of 52 insurgents were killed in February, and 661 were detained.
A series of attacks targeting the Shiite religious mourning ceremony of Arbaeen in Baghdad and the holy shrine city of Karbala in central Iraq accounted for more than 100 dead alone last month.
