UN: 750 people killed in Iraq's violence in April

A total of 750 Iraqis were killed and another 1,541 injured in violent attacks in April, most of whom civilians, according to a statement released on Thursday by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). UNAMI excluded the casualties in Anbar province where fierce clashes flared up after Iraqi police dismantled an anti-government protest site outside Ramadi in late December last year. However, the statement obtained information from the Health Directorate in Anbar province saying that the total civilian casualties as of April 29 were 135 killed and 525 injured across the province. As violence flares, Special Representative of the UN Secretary- General for Iraq Nickolay Mladenov urged the country to deal with the violent attacks through a holistic approach. "I once again stress the need for unity and a holistic approach to dealing with the terrorist threat in Iraq. Only through a combination of effective security operations, political engagement and socially inclusive policies can social peace be promoted," Mladenov said. Iraq's Sunnis have been carrying out a year-long protest, accusing the Shiite-led government of marginalizing them and its Shiite-dominated security forces of indiscriminately arresting, torturing and killing community members. Iraq is currently witnessing some of its worst violence in recent years. According to the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, a total of 8,868 Iraqis, including 7,818 civilians and civilian police personnel, were killed in 2013, the highest annual death toll in years.