Death toll of Iraqis climbs in August

BAGHDAD, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Statistics of Iraq's monthly death toll of violence showed 456 Iraqis were killed in August, the highest level in more than a year, Iraqi authorities said Tuesday.

According to figures compiled by Iraqi health, defense and interior ministries, the total figure included 393 civilians killed across the country, 48 policemen and 15 soldiers, the highest since July last year when 465 people killed.

The ministries data also showed 1,741 people were wounded, including 129 policemen and 20 soldiers.

The number is up last month compared with 275 deaths in July following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Iraqi cities and towns.

The U.S. troops pulled out on June 30 from Iraqi cities and towns, leaving the Iraqi security forces struggling to control security in the war-torn country by its own.

The increase of August toll widely attributed to the two massive truck bombings on Aug. 19, which killed 95 people and wounded some 600 others.

The deadly blasts forced the Iraqi government to admit that a serious security breach has been made in Baghdad.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military announced seven deaths of its soldiers in August, bringing the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq to 4,336 since the outbreak of the Iraq war in 2003.