Iraq May death toll passes 500

BAGHDAD: Violence in Iraq has killed more than 500 people in May, AFP figures showed yesterday, as authorities struggled to contain a wave of unrest that has raised fears of all-out sectarian conflict.

And the UN envoy to Iraq urged the country’s leaders to meet to resolve long-running political crises that have paralyzed the government and been linked to its inability to reduce the violence. As of yesterday, 507 people were killed and 1,287 wounded, making May the deadliest month in at least a year, according to the data, based on reports from security and medical sources.

May is the second month in a row in which more than 400 people have been killed, for a total exceeding 960 people in less than two months.

A bomb exploded on a bus yesterday in Sadr City, a Shiite area of north Baghdad, killing four people and wounding at least 14, security and medical officials said.

The blast comes a day after a wave of attacks, including bombings in Baghdad that mainly targeted Shiite areas, killed 58 people and wounded 187, according to officials.

“I once again urge all Iraqi leaders to do everything possible to protect Iraqi civilians. It is their responsibility to stop the bloodshed now,” UN envoy Martin Kobler said in a statement.

“It is the politicians’ responsibility to act immediately and to engage in dialogue to resolve the political impasse and not let terrorists benefit from their political differences.”