Iraqis take over security, violent deaths fall by 1/3

gee... how 'BOUT that...?

Violent deaths in Iraq fell by a third in July, the first month that Iraqi police and troops were in charge of security in urban areas since the 2003 US-led invasion, official figures showed Saturday.

A total of 275 Iraqis lost their lives last month, according to statistics compiled by the interior, defence and health ministries, compared to 437 deaths in June.

Two hundred and twenty-three Iraqi civilians, 40 police and 12 soldiers died in July, while 975 civilians, 93 police and 35 soldiers were wounded in attacks, according to the figures.

Overall, 400 insurgents and militiamen were arrested by Iraq's security forces, while 41 were killed, the figures showed.

In another sign that violence levels have ebbed, the number of US soldiers killed in July dropped to seven, the lowest monthly toll since the invasion, according to an AFP tally based on independent website icasualties.org.

The previous lowest monthly toll of US casualties was nine dead in March this year.

obviously it's dangerous to jump to conclusions, but it seems reasonable to speculate that at least SOME of the violence was related to having foreign troops occupying the country... also, let's face it, ONE-THIRD is a very impressive number...

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