another horrific sign of bush's "success"

Iraqi casualties at highest level since August

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Fighting between security forces and Shi'ite militiamen last month has driven civilian deaths in Iraq to their highest level in more than six months, government figures showed on Tuesday.

Britian responded to renewed violence in the southern city of Basra by delaying plans to bring home 1,500 of its 4,000 troops in Iraq.

A total of 923 civilians were killed in March, up 31 percent from February and the
deadliest month since August 2007, according to data compiled by Iraq's interior, defense and health ministries and obtained by Reuters.

The figures are a blow to the Iraqi government and the United States, which have pointed to reduced overall levels of violence in recent months as evidence that a major security offensive has made significant progress.

Hundreds of people were killed and many more wounded in last week's fighting after Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered a crackdown on Shi'ite militiamen in Basra. Many of the dead were civilians caught in the crossfire.

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Obviously, things are not working out under bush's insane reign - we need a fresh approach and unfortunately, that won't happen until the repugs are removed from office. I can't believe that we have to wait nearly another year before we have a chance at sanity again.