IRAQ: Insurgent attacks rose in 2005, says US military report

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/dc6a0e70498c694e59ca64fcffd21e29.htm

IRAQ: Insurgent attacks rose in 2005, says US military report

BAGHDAD, 24 January (IRIN) - Violence in Iraq rose dramatically in 2005 compared with the year before, noted a report released by the US military on 23 January.

According to US military statistics, 34,100 insurgent attacks mostly targeting US and Iraqi troops were recorded last year, up from about 27,000 in 2004, representing an increase of almost 30 percent.

Instances of pedestrian suicide bombing also rose, from seven in 2004 to 67 in 2005. Similarly, suicide attacks using car bombs rose in numbers from 133 to 411 for the same period.

US military spokespeople, however, insist that the recorded increases do not indicate a weakening of government control or evidence of an empowered insurgency.