Iraq rights ministry says 85,000 killed in 2004-08

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Iraq's human rights ministry said on Tuesday that at least 85,000 people had been killed by bombs, murders and fighting in 2004-08, in a rare death toll release by an Iraqi government agency.

...

"Outlawed groups through terrorist attacks like explosions, assassinations, kidnappings or forced displacements created these terrible figures, which represent a huge challenge for the rule of law and for the Iraqi people," the ministry said.

"These figures draw a picture about the impact of terrorism and the violation of natural life in Iraq," the ministry said in a draft report on deaths in Iraq.

The report -- which only represents death certificates issued by the health ministry -- also said that 147,195 people had been wounded from 2004 to the end of October 2008.

..

A senior rights ministry official said that the report did not include missing persons, estimated at around 10,000 people.

The report said some 15,000 unidentified bodies were found in the period. "Thousands of Iraqis killed since 2003 without being identified by their relatives were buried in special cemeteries called unidentified body cemeteries," it said.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LD633492.htm

Seems kinda low, though. The Lancet report said over 600,000 as of 2006.

Please remember...the Iraq people had NOTHING to do with 9-11.
Please remember...the American people were lied too and this war was started on lies.
Please remember...we voted Obama in to end these endless wars.
Please remember...these dead people would be alive today if we just tried harder to end these terrible wars.
These are people just like us..with families that loved them..with mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers. With hopes and dreams of a better life.
There were no hidden weapons of mass distruction and Bush and co KNEW they were lying about them.
Why are they not in jail? What is wrong with a president that will NOT prosecute war crimes or is this just fine with all of us?

Rest assured the real number is much, much higher.