BAGHDAD - The United Nations, citing evidence of
severe torture, said Iraq had become deadlier than ever, as local Iraqi forces
took charge of a southern province from departing Italian soldiers on Thursday.
A UN report released overnight said 6,599 Iraqis had died violently in the
last two months, 700 more than the previous two, making the period the deadliest
yet. Many were tortured and killed by death squads because of their religion, it
said.
Italian soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint on the outskirts
of Basra in this May 22, 2006 file photo. Italian forces ended their
mission in Iraq on Thursday, handing over the southern province they
patrol to Iraqis, while the United Nations said the country has become
deadlier than ever. [Reuters] |
"Bodies found at the Medico-legal Institute often bear signs of severe
torture including acid-induced injuries and burns caused by chemical substances,
missing skin, broken bones, missing eyes, missing teeth and wounds caused by
power drills or nails," the report said.
July was deadlier than August, which Washington say shows a security
crackdown in the capital Baghdad is working. But violence has already escalated
again in September, with a surge in death squad killings in the capital and a
relentless series of bomb attacks in the north and west in recent days.
The latest, a massive car bomb strike on a tribal leader in Samarra, killed
10 and wounded 39 on Wednesday, according to police. On Thursday, gunmen in four
cars attacked a police station in western Baghdad, killing six.
ITALIANS DEPART
The withdrawal of 1,600 Italian troops from Dhi Qar province means the two
allies that invaded Iraq in 2003 -- the United States and Britain -- are now the
only big, rich countries with large forces there.
The Italians, under British command in the southern sector, will all be home
within eight weeks, British military spokesman Major Charlie Burbridge said.
The province also includes a giant US air base which will not be turned over,
near ruins of the ancient city of Ur. A task force of 450 Australians will stay
on that base as a rapid reaction team in case of a security emergency in the
province.
Dhi Qar is the second of Iraq's 15 non-Kurdish provinces to be turned over to
Iraqis after the Japanese pulled out of mainly desert Muthanna province, also in
the south, two months ago.
"This is a great day in Iraq's history," Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said
at a ceremony in the provincial capital Nassiriya, which featured Iraqi troops
parading in bright yellow pickup trucks with machine guns mounted in the back.
"Muthanna was first, now comes Dhi Qar to crown this victory, and other
provinces will come to crown further victories until we reach our goal."
The British commander, Major General Richard Shirreff said: "I have great
confidence in the security forces in the province. Both police and army are well
led, and, most importantly, have good relations with the governor.... I
congratulate you wholeheartedly."
Britain has also pulled out of its main base in a third province, Maysan,
leaving British troops in the south largely confined to Basra, Iraq's second
largest city.
In both Maysan and Muthanna, the bases that were evacuated by foreign troops
were promised for Iraqi forces, but were ransacked by looters within hours of
the foreigners leaving.
While other countries are pulling troops out, Washington has sent thousands
more this year in an effort to stem a rapidly escalating spiral of violence. The
US commander in the Middle East said this week there will be no cutbacks before
mid-2007.
Washington is now focusing its effort on the capital Baghdad, scaling back
its forces in the rest of the country.
US commanders predict violence will get worse next week with the start of the
Ramadan holy month, and they say attacks on U.S. troops have also surged in the
last two weeks.
Followers of radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said US forces had
arrested one of Sadr's top aides, Salah al-Obeydi, at his home in the holy city
of Najaf.
