Almost 35,000 civilians were killed during 2006 in Iraq, the United Nations said Tuesday. This figures reflects a sharp increase from the numbers reported previously by the Iraqi government.
Gianni Magazzeni, the chief of the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq, conveyed 34,452 civilians were killed and 36,685 were injured last year.
Earlier, estimates had put the number killed at between 12,000 to 23,000. When asked about the discrepancy, Magazzeni told the AP the U.N. figures were compiled from information obtained through the Iraqi Health Ministry, operations centers at hospitals across Iraq and other bodies. "Without significant progress in the rule of law sectarian violence will continue indefinitely and eventually spiral out of control," he warned.
Earlier this month, the Iraqi Health Ministry said 22,950 people died in 2006.
