Iraqi Government Disputes Report On Recent Deaths

A boy near a deadly blast in January 20 July 2005 -- Iraqi officials have released new figures that appear aimed at disputing a research group's recent claim that more Iraqis are dying from crime and U.S.-led coalition activities than from the insurgency.

Today's figures suggest that a total of 8,175 Iraqis have been killed in the last 10 months, the vast majority of them civilians.

A government statement said figures from the Interior Ministry also include casualties from Iraq's armed forces.

The Oxford Research Group and Iraq Body Count asserted yesterday that nearly 25,000 civilians have died in violence here in the two years since the U.S.-led invasion began.

(AP)

See also:

" Study Claims Nearly 25,000 Civilian Deaths In Iraq"