Raw Story: Death Toll Spikes for Iraqis and US Troops!

Violence killed more Iraqis last month than at any time since September, figures showed Friday, after the US reported deaths that also made June the deadliest month for its troops in Iraq for three years. The Baghdad (read US) government blames Al-Qaeda for most of the 271 deaths of its citizens last month, while the US military accuses "Iranian-backed" Shiite insurgent groups for the attacks that killed 14 Americans. Data compiled by the health, interior, and defense ministries showed that 155 civilians, 77 policemen, and 39 soldiers died in attacks last month, 34 percent more than the 177 killed in May. Last month's toll was the highest monthly figure for the number of Iraqis killed since September 2010, when 273 died. The previous high for this year was January, when 273 died. The previous high for this year was January, when 259 were killed. A further 454 people were wounded in June, including 192 civilians, 77 policemen, and 39 soldiers. The majority were killed or wounded by car bombs, improvised explosives or shootings, with a large number of senior officials also assassinated with silencer guns. The worst attack was a June 21 double car-bombing outside the governor's home in the central city of Diwaniyah, which killed 26 people, most of them policemen guarding the official, who escaped unharmed. Two days later, three bombs packed in shopping carts killed 21 people and wounded 86 others at a market in southern Baghdad crowded with weekend shoppers. On the same day, an American contractor with USAID was killed, and another wounded by an improvised bomb next to their armored vehicle in the capital.