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| Who is counting the bodies in Iraq? | Who is counting the bodies in Iraq? |
| (2 days later) | |
| By Natalia Antelava BBC News, Baghdad | By Natalia Antelava BBC News, Baghdad |
| "We don't do body counts." These were the words of Gen Tommy Franks, the man in charge of the US-led invasion of Iraq. | "We don't do body counts." These were the words of Gen Tommy Franks, the man in charge of the US-led invasion of Iraq. |
| But more than six-and-a-half years after the invasion, the body count has become a measure of success and failure in Iraq. | |
| In November, officials announced that violent deaths were at their lowest since 2003. That was an important example of progress in Iraq, according to the Iraqi government. | In November, officials announced that violent deaths were at their lowest since 2003. That was an important example of progress in Iraq, according to the Iraqi government. |
| Most of the big explosions since August occurred near official buildings | Most of the big explosions since August occurred near official buildings |
| Eight days after the announcement, five massive explosions went off almost simultaneously in different parts of Baghdad, killing and wounding hundreds. | Eight days after the announcement, five massive explosions went off almost simultaneously in different parts of Baghdad, killing and wounding hundreds. |
| These well-co-ordinated, sophisticated attacks targeted symbols of the state - not only government buildings but also universities and state-run institutions. | These well-co-ordinated, sophisticated attacks targeted symbols of the state - not only government buildings but also universities and state-run institutions. |
| The explosions were similar in scale to devastating bomb attacks in August and in October. | The explosions were similar in scale to devastating bomb attacks in August and in October. |
| The country's commander-in-chief and Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is now under increased pressure to provide better security for the capital. | The country's commander-in-chief and Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is now under increased pressure to provide better security for the capital. |
| After all, that's what he is credited with doing best. | After all, that's what he is credited with doing best. |
| Serious questions | Serious questions |
| Mr Maliki's political reputation was built largely on his apparent success in bringing violence levels down following the US troop surge in 2007. | Mr Maliki's political reputation was built largely on his apparent success in bringing violence levels down following the US troop surge in 2007. |
| HISTORY OF BIG ATTACKS Mar 2004: 171 killed in bombings in Baghdad and KarbalaNov 2006: 202 killed in multiple blasts in BaghdadMar 2007: 152 killed in lorry bombing in TalafarApr 2007: 191 killed in car bombings in BaghdadAug 2007: More than 500 killed in attacks on villages near SinjarAug 2009: 95 killed in lorry bombs in BaghdadOct 2009: 155 killed in twin lorry bomb attacks in BaghdadDec 2009: 127 killed in a series of car bombs in Baghdad Source: News agencies, BBC | HISTORY OF BIG ATTACKS Mar 2004: 171 killed in bombings in Baghdad and KarbalaNov 2006: 202 killed in multiple blasts in BaghdadMar 2007: 152 killed in lorry bombing in TalafarApr 2007: 191 killed in car bombings in BaghdadAug 2007: More than 500 killed in attacks on villages near SinjarAug 2009: 95 killed in lorry bombs in BaghdadOct 2009: 155 killed in twin lorry bomb attacks in BaghdadDec 2009: 127 killed in a series of car bombs in Baghdad Source: News agencies, BBC |
| Now, this image of a man who could keep Baghdad safe has been tarnished. | Now, this image of a man who could keep Baghdad safe has been tarnished. |
| Across the city, as dust settled over the bomb sites and grief took the place of the initial shock and panic, some serious questions began to emerge. | Across the city, as dust settled over the bomb sites and grief took the place of the initial shock and panic, some serious questions began to emerge. |
| One of them is how many died in the explosions? | One of them is how many died in the explosions? |
| The number, according to the international and independent Iraqi media is more than one hundred, but the official toll is 77. | The number, according to the international and independent Iraqi media is more than one hundred, but the official toll is 77. |
| There are plenty of examples of similar discrepancies in numbers. | There are plenty of examples of similar discrepancies in numbers. |
| Round-up | Round-up |
| Two days before the big bombings, explosives went off in a school in Sadr City, a Shia suburb of Baghdad. | Two days before the big bombings, explosives went off in a school in Sadr City, a Shia suburb of Baghdad. |
| We go to the bomb sites - we know how many people really die Hindt al-BedeiriIraqi journalist | We go to the bomb sites - we know how many people really die Hindt al-BedeiriIraqi journalist |
| Police sources told us that six children were killed, but Iraqi officials said one student had died. | Police sources told us that six children were killed, but Iraqi officials said one student had died. |
| There was a real difference in coverage of the event as well. | There was a real difference in coverage of the event as well. |
| It grabbed international headlines, but Iraqi state TV led on political progress and the achievements of the government. | It grabbed international headlines, but Iraqi state TV led on political progress and the achievements of the government. |
| The school explosion was mentioned in a 40-second round-up at the very end of the news bulletin. | The school explosion was mentioned in a 40-second round-up at the very end of the news bulletin. |
| "The government is manipulating the figures," says journalist Hindt al-Bedeiri who writes for the pro-opposition al-Mashraq newspaper. | "The government is manipulating the figures," says journalist Hindt al-Bedeiri who writes for the pro-opposition al-Mashraq newspaper. |
| "Politicians are lying to us because they are worried about the election. They are looking after their own interests. We go to the bomb sites - we know how many people really die," she says. | "Politicians are lying to us because they are worried about the election. They are looking after their own interests. We go to the bomb sites - we know how many people really die," she says. |
| Official numbers | Official numbers |
| But the government insists that its numbers are correct. | But the government insists that its numbers are correct. |
| We are not lying... There is no justification to distorting this kind of information. It's disrespectful. Every death, every person matters Saad al-MutalibiGovernment adviser | We are not lying... There is no justification to distorting this kind of information. It's disrespectful. Every death, every person matters Saad al-MutalibiGovernment adviser |
| "The media are interested in blowing the situation out of proportion, and certain networks and channels are trying to boost the numbers," says Saad al-Mutalibi, an adviser to the Iraqi government. | "The media are interested in blowing the situation out of proportion, and certain networks and channels are trying to boost the numbers," says Saad al-Mutalibi, an adviser to the Iraqi government. |
| "I believe these official numbers because they come from the Ministry of Health". | "I believe these official numbers because they come from the Ministry of Health". |
| For their part, health authorities receive their figures from hospitals. | For their part, health authorities receive their figures from hospitals. |
| Shortly after Tuesday's bombings, the BBC visited one of Baghdad's hospitals. | Shortly after Tuesday's bombings, the BBC visited one of Baghdad's hospitals. |
| The total number of injured given by administrative staff was significantly lower than the estimates provided by doctors who were receiving patients. | The total number of injured given by administrative staff was significantly lower than the estimates provided by doctors who were receiving patients. |
| One of the doctors, surgeon Tara Barki, said she believed the government was trying to downplay violence. | One of the doctors, surgeon Tara Barki, said she believed the government was trying to downplay violence. |
| "We have explosions every day, but most of them are small and scattered and so they either receive no media attention or are camouflaged by the government," Dr Barki said. | "We have explosions every day, but most of them are small and scattered and so they either receive no media attention or are camouflaged by the government," Dr Barki said. |
| 'Deaths matter' | 'Deaths matter' |
| But the government denies manipulating figures. | But the government denies manipulating figures. |
| "We are not lying, and I can guarantee you that the office of Prime Minister Maliki would never lie about the figures," said Mr Moutalibi, the government adviser. | "We are not lying, and I can guarantee you that the office of Prime Minister Maliki would never lie about the figures," said Mr Moutalibi, the government adviser. |
| COUNTING THE DEAD In October 2009, the Iraqi government reported that 85,000 Iraqis (civilians, military and police) died in violence between 2004 and 2008Iraq Body Count: Campaign group counts from media reports and official figures. It says that 94,705 - 103,336 civilians have died since invasionLancet study in October 2006 estimated 655,000 people died in Iraq as a result of the invasion | COUNTING THE DEAD In October 2009, the Iraqi government reported that 85,000 Iraqis (civilians, military and police) died in violence between 2004 and 2008Iraq Body Count: Campaign group counts from media reports and official figures. It says that 94,705 - 103,336 civilians have died since invasionLancet study in October 2006 estimated 655,000 people died in Iraq as a result of the invasion |
| "There is no justification to distorting this kind of information. It's disrespectful. Every death, every person matters." | "There is no justification to distorting this kind of information. It's disrespectful. Every death, every person matters." |
| The government says these explosions should not undermine the progress it has made. | The government says these explosions should not undermine the progress it has made. |
| In December, and after months of political wrangling, Iraqi politicians finally agreed to have an election on 7 March. | In December, and after months of political wrangling, Iraqi politicians finally agreed to have an election on 7 March. |
| The deal was hailed as a big political achievement, crucial to the future of Iraq. | The deal was hailed as a big political achievement, crucial to the future of Iraq. |
| But violence, it seems, could still be dictating the rules of the game. | But violence, it seems, could still be dictating the rules of the game. |
| The outcome of the election, the timing of the US withdrawal and Iraq's ability to attract much-needed investment, could all depend on how safe this country is - or is perceived to be. | The outcome of the election, the timing of the US withdrawal and Iraq's ability to attract much-needed investment, could all depend on how safe this country is - or is perceived to be. |
| Statistics are irrelevant for mothers who are still losing their children in Iraq. | Statistics are irrelevant for mothers who are still losing their children in Iraq. |
| But whatever Gen Tommy Franks said nearly seven years ago, today Iraq's politicians are indeed doing a body count. | But whatever Gen Tommy Franks said nearly seven years ago, today Iraq's politicians are indeed doing a body count. |