The UN Mission in Iraq says 1,057 people were killed in the country in July, making it the deadliest month in five years.
UN envoy Gyorgy Busztin released the figures on August 1 and called on Iraq's political leaders to "take immediate and decisive action to stop the senseless bloodshed," and prevent the country sliding back into sectarian conflict.
The highest monthly death toll in Iraq violence was in April 2008, when 1,428 people were killed as the country was emerging from a bloody sectarian conflict between Shi'a and Sunnis.
Analysts say widespread frustration with the predominantly Shi'ite government and security forces among the Sunni Arab minority is a major factor behind the heightened violence this year.
Protests broke out in Sunni-majority areas at the end of 2012, and are still going on.
UN envoy Gyorgy Busztin released the figures on August 1 and called on Iraq's political leaders to "take immediate and decisive action to stop the senseless bloodshed," and prevent the country sliding back into sectarian conflict.
The highest monthly death toll in Iraq violence was in April 2008, when 1,428 people were killed as the country was emerging from a bloody sectarian conflict between Shi'a and Sunnis.
Analysts say widespread frustration with the predominantly Shi'ite government and security forces among the Sunni Arab minority is a major factor behind the heightened violence this year.
Protests broke out in Sunni-majority areas at the end of 2012, and are still going on.