This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/02/world/middleeast/iraq.html

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Iraqi Parliament Meets as Casualties Mount Iraqi Parliament Meets as Casualties Mount
(35 minutes later)
BAGHDAD — Iraqi security forces made a show of force on the streets of the capital on Tuesday as Parliament convened, while the United Nations announced that June had been the deadliest month in Iraq for many years. BAGHDAD — Iraqi security forces made a show of force on the streets of the capital on Tuesday as a new Parliament convened, while the United Nations announced that June had been the deadliest month in Iraq for many years.
The violent death toll in Iraq, except Anbar Province, during June was 2,417 people. By far the largest category of fatalities was civilians, with more than 1,500 dead, followed by 886 members of Iraq’s beleaguered security forces, according to United Nations statistics.The violent death toll in Iraq, except Anbar Province, during June was 2,417 people. By far the largest category of fatalities was civilians, with more than 1,500 dead, followed by 886 members of Iraq’s beleaguered security forces, according to United Nations statistics.
The fatalities were four times higher than in May, before the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria began its offensive to take Mosul and much of northern Iraq on June 10.The fatalities were four times higher than in May, before the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria began its offensive to take Mosul and much of northern Iraq on June 10.
The Iraqi government declared a national holiday for the convening of Parliament. Most shops and businesses were closed as large numbers of troops and police officers patrolled the city and established checkpoints at most major intersections, as well as around neighborhoods with large Sunni populations. The Iraqi government declared a national holiday for the convening of Parliament. Many shops and businesses were closed as large numbers of troops and police officers patrolled the city and established checkpoints at most major intersections, as well as around neighborhoods with large Sunni populations.
The Parliament began meeting Tuesday in an effort to form a government, amid pressure on Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, a Shiite, to step aside for a candidate more acceptable to Iraq’s Sunnis and Kurds. The Parliament began meeting Tuesday morning in an effort to form a government, amid pressure on Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, a Shiite, to step aside for a candidate more acceptable to Iraq’s Sunnis and Kurds.
The death toll was one of the highest monthly figures for Iraq, reaching a level of violence not seen there since 2008, according to the United Nations. In May, according to the data, 799 people were killed in Iraq, including 240 members of the security forces. The figures do not take into account Anbar Province, much of which has been under the control of ISIS-led insurgents and where the United Nations has no presence. The United Nations cited Health Ministry officials in Anbar as recording 244 civilians killed and 588 injured from June 1-29, bringing the total violent death toll for the country in June to at least 2,661.The death toll was one of the highest monthly figures for Iraq, reaching a level of violence not seen there since 2008, according to the United Nations. In May, according to the data, 799 people were killed in Iraq, including 240 members of the security forces. The figures do not take into account Anbar Province, much of which has been under the control of ISIS-led insurgents and where the United Nations has no presence. The United Nations cited Health Ministry officials in Anbar as recording 244 civilians killed and 588 injured from June 1-29, bringing the total violent death toll for the country in June to at least 2,661.
In 2008, one of the worst years of sectarian violence, 7,000 people were killed in the entire year.In 2008, one of the worst years of sectarian violence, 7,000 people were killed in the entire year.
The top United Nations official in Iraq, Nikolay E. Mladenov, called the civilian casualties in June a “staggering number” and connected the violence to Iraq’s stalled political process.
With large parts of the country under the control of ISIS militants and armed groups, Mr. Mladenov said in a statement issued by his office: “It is imperative that national leaders work together to foil attempts to destroy the social fabric of Iraqi society.”
“What can be achieved through a Constitutional political process cannot be achieved through an exclusively military response,” he added. “Security must be restored but the root causes of violence must be addressed.”
Late Monday night, ISIS militants fired mortars into the Askariya Shrine in Samarra, killing six people, according to hospital officials.Late Monday night, ISIS militants fired mortars into the Askariya Shrine in Samarra, killing six people, according to hospital officials.
An Iraqi government official said the shrine, where many worshipers had gathered to celebrate the first day of Ramadan, was not hit, but a security official at the scene said two mortars hit the dome, causing minor damage.An Iraqi government official said the shrine, where many worshipers had gathered to celebrate the first day of Ramadan, was not hit, but a security official at the scene said two mortars hit the dome, causing minor damage.
Such attacks on the shrine by Qaeda-related groups in 2006 set off a wave of sectarian violence in Iraq that lasted for years.Such attacks on the shrine by Qaeda-related groups in 2006 set off a wave of sectarian violence in Iraq that lasted for years.
The Iraqi government has heavily reinforced Samarra, about 80 miles north of Baghdad, to prevent ISIS insurgents from carrying out attacks on the shrine.The Iraqi government has heavily reinforced Samarra, about 80 miles north of Baghdad, to prevent ISIS insurgents from carrying out attacks on the shrine.
ISIS has made no secret of its intention to spark a sectarian war in Iraq, as Al Qaeda did in 2006. The group has been formed from the remnants of Al Qaeda in Iraq, which was defeated by a Sunni uprising against the extremists, aided by support from the American and Iraqi militaries.ISIS has made no secret of its intention to spark a sectarian war in Iraq, as Al Qaeda did in 2006. The group has been formed from the remnants of Al Qaeda in Iraq, which was defeated by a Sunni uprising against the extremists, aided by support from the American and Iraqi militaries.
The assault on the shrine was expected to arouse fears of a wave of retaliatory attacks in an atmosphere in which Sunnis have already begun to be the target of random, apparently sectarian killings in Baghdad and elsewhere, as a response to the advances by ISIS in Sunni-dominated parts of the country.The assault on the shrine was expected to arouse fears of a wave of retaliatory attacks in an atmosphere in which Sunnis have already begun to be the target of random, apparently sectarian killings in Baghdad and elsewhere, as a response to the advances by ISIS in Sunni-dominated parts of the country.