Total 2010 Iraq death toll tops 2009: government

The total number of Iraqi civilians and security forces personnel killed in violence in 2010 was higher than the previous year, according to official statistics released on Saturday. Figures compiled by the defense, interior and health ministries indicated that 151 people -- 89 civilians, 41 police and 21 soldiers -- were killed in December 2010. According to an AFP tally based on figures from the three ministries released over the course of 2010, a total of 3,605 Iraqi civilians, police and army personnel were killed last year -- 124 more than the 3,481 who were killed in 2009. The rise in the 2010 death toll was due to an increased number of security force personnel killed -- 215 more policemen and 204 more army members than the previous year.