October shows lowest levels of violence, casualties-MNF commander

BAGHDAD/IraqiNews.com: The number of Iraqi civilians and Multi-National forces(MNF) killed in Iraq hit the lowest levels since the war began in 2003, a MNF Commander said on Sunday. “Last October figures in security reports submitted to the U.S. General Inspector showed the lowest levels in casualties and armed operations,” British Army Brig. Johnny Torrens-Spence Deputy commander of Multinational Security Transition to Iraq told reporters at a press conference in Baghdad. “The figures indicated increasing capability of Iraq forces to take responsibility in different areas,” he noted. Iraqi government figures showed 238 of its civilians were killed in October, the lowest number since U.S. forces invaded Iraq in 2003. Just seven U.S. servicemen were killed in hostile actions in October, the lowest monthly toll of the war according to statistics from the Web site www.icasualties.org which collates official data. Eight were killed in hostile action last September, while 30 were killed in hostile action in October 2007. In April and May 2007, the monthly U.S. death toll ran higher than 100. Violence in Iraq has fallen sharply over the last year, a trend which is attributed to a boost in U.S. troops levels in 2007, the decision by Sunni Tribal councils to support U.S. security efforts and a ceasefire imposed on Shiite militants loyal to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Iraqi and U.S. officials are struggling to conclude a bilateral pact that would provide U.S. troops a legal basis to operate in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires at the end of the year. It would allow U.S. troops to stay in Iraq through 2011. AM(S) 1