The number of civilians killed in Iraq last month more than halved to 359 compared to a year ago, Iraqi government figures indicated, and the number of American soldiers killed in action also declined dramatically.
U.S. combat deaths dropped to eight in September, down from 12 last month and vastly reduced from 43 in September last year, statistics from independent Web site www.icasualites.org showed. September's toll of 359 civilian deaths was lower than August's 382. Some 884 Iraqi civilians were killed in September 2007.
