At least 2,078 people died in Iraq last month, 15 percent higher than in February despite a massive security crackdown in Baghdad, a security official said on Sunday.
On average, 67 people died across the country every day in March, compared to 64 in February, AFP reported. A significant rise in Iraqi civilian, army and police deaths was evident last month, the official said, based on detailed figures collected by the defense, interior and health ministries.
Civilian deaths topped the toll with 1,869 Iraqis killed in attacks during March, compared to 1,646 in February. Another 2,719 civilians were injured last month, compared to 2,701 in February. Nearly a third of the Iraqi civilian deaths, more than 500 people, where killed in three big bomb attacks in the last week of the month and revenge killings of Sunni men in Tal Afar the night after a Shiite market was bomb in the northwest Iraqi city.
In March, 165 Iraqi policemen died compared to 131 the previous month, while 44 Iraqi soldiers were killed compared to 29 in February, the official said. In March, 277 Iraqi policemen and 51 soldiers were hurt against 147 and 47, respectively during February.
The US military also lost 85 personnel in March. According to the AP, at least 83 American forces died in January and 80 in February.
