Baghdad: Civilian deaths from violence across Iraq fell by 50 per cent in September, according to government data released on Monday, matching a decrease in US military casualties attributed to a boost in troop numbers.
Information provided by the health, interior and defence ministries registered 884 civilians killed in September, the lowest monthly total this year, down from 1,773 in August.
The casualties were also the lowest since Washington began pouring an extra 30,000 troops into Iraq as part of a security crackdown aimed at Al Qaida and other Sunni Arab militants and Shiite militias across the country.
The drop in civilian violence came despite a warning by Al Qaida at the start of Ramadan that it would escalate attacks during the holy month and target tribal leaders who were cooperating with security forces.
The US military said that while violence levels were still too high, attacks so far during Ramadan were down 38 per cent on last year.
This was mainly because of the "surge" of extra troops and a change in strategy to move troops out of large bases into smaller combat outposts where they live and fight alongside Iraqis, military spokesman Rear Admiral Mark Fox said.
