UN: Iraqi Prime Minister Ordered Civilian Death, Injury Toll Sealed...

The New York Times Warren Hoge October 21, 2006 03:11 PM

The United Nations office in Baghdad says that Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, has ordered the country's medical authorities to stop providing the organization with monthly figures on the number of civilians killed and wounded in the conflict there, according to a confidential cable.

The cable, dated Oct. 17 and sent to United Nations officials in New York and Geneva by Ashraf Qazi, the United Nations envoy to Iraq, says the prohibition may hinder the ability of his office to give accurate accounts in its bimonthly human rights reports on the levels of violence and the effect on Iraqi society.

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78 US Troops Killed So Far In October...

Associated Press SINAN SALAHEDDIN October 21, 2006 03:26 PM

Three U.S. Marines were killed in combat Saturday in Anbar province, the military said, making October the deadliest month for American forces inIraq this year. The deaths raised the October toll to 78, surpassing the previous high figure of 76 in April and making October -- with more than a week left -- on course to be the deadliest month for American service members in two years.

Also Saturday, a dozen mortars rained down on an outdoor market crowded with holiday shoppers, killing at least 18 people in a Shiite-dominated city that was the scene of a deadly market assault earlier this year, police said.

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