Report: Civilian death toll in Iraq rises to nearly 2,000 in May

The grandmother of 11-year-old Mohammed Mahmoud Azzawi mourns behind the body of her grandson in a morgue in Baqouba today. Azzawi is one of the 3 civilians killed after a U.S airstrike this morning in the Al-mafraq district of central Baqouba killed 3 civilians and injured five others the Joint Coordination Center said.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The number of civilians killed in Iraq jumped to nearly 2,000 in May, the highest monthly toll since the start of a U.S.-backed security crackdown in February, according to figures released on Saturday.

An Interior Ministry official, who did not want to be named because he was not authorized to release the figures, said 1,944 civilians were killed in May, a 29 percent hike over April. At least 174 soldiers and policemen were killed in the same period.

The death toll was based on statistics compiled by Iraq's ministries of interior, defense and health on the number of people killed and wounded in attacks in Iraq.

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