Iraq death toll in August highest in 13 months

Violent deaths in Iraq hit a 13-month high in August, official figures showed on Tuesday, raising fresh concerns about the country's stability after the government admitted that security is worsening. Statistics compiled by the defence, interior and health ministries showed that 456 people -- 393 civilians, 48 police and 15 Iraqi soldiers -- were killed, the highest toll since July last year when 465 died in unrest. There were also 1,592 civilians, 129 police and 20 soldiers wounded. August also saw 52 insurgents killed and 540 arrested. The toll in August jumped markedly from the 275 Iraqis who lost their lives in July, in the wake of a major pullout of US combat troops from urban centres the previous month.