BAGHDAD: The number of people killed in violence in Iraq last month was the lowest in a year for the second month running, government figures showed Wednesday.
The figures, compiled by the defence, interior and health ministries, showed that 171 people — 105 civilians, 23 soldiers and 43 policemen — died in attacks in November.
That represents the lowest number since November 2009, with monthly death tolls having now fallen for five consecutive months. The October death toll of 185 was also lower than the figure in November 2009.
In all, 293 people were wounded in violence, including 155 civilians, 60 soldiers and 78 policemen.
The figures also showed that 40 insurgents were killed and 195 arrested.
Two US soldiers died in November, one as a result of hostile fire, bringing to 4,429 the number of American troops to have died in Iraq since the 2003 invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein, according to an AFP tally based on independent website www.icasualties.org.
The US has just under 50,000 soldiers still stationed in Iraq after Washington declared an end to combat operations here at the end of August, with all American troops set to withdraw from the country by the end of next year.
In mid-November, Iraqi lawmakers salvaged a power-sharing pact among Shia, Sunni and Kurdish groups, ending more than eight months of political instability after an inconclusive parliamentary election.
