Drop in civilian casualties in December but more civilians killed in 2007 than in the preceding year; Surge in suicide attacks, Sunni Awakening Councils targeted; Maximum journalists killed in 2007 in Iraq, Somalia, Pakistan
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    • Statistics released by the Iraqi Interior, Health and Defence ministries reflected the improved security situation in Iraq, with 481 civilians having lost their lives in December 2007, as against the 1,930 killed during the same month in the previous year, a reduction of about 75 per cent. December was also the least deadly month for the US military, with 21 soldiers getting killed. However, more civilians died in 2007 – at 16,232, compared with 12,360 who had lost their lives in the preceding year.1
    Also, a surge of attacks in the first week of the New Year killed over 50 people. These included 2 suicide attacks at checkpoints manned by security volunteers of the mostly-Sunni Awakening Councils. In the first instance, over 10 people were killed in an attack at a checkpoint north of Baghdad on December 31 while 6 Iraqis lost their lives, including a tribal chief, in an attack in Diyala province on December 22. Reports noted that these attacks came within days of an audio message from bin Laden urging Sunnis to reject the American-backed Councils3. The Al Qaeda also kidnapped a tribal chieftain near the town of Khalis in Diyala province, who reports noted was planning a local militia to counter the Qaeda threat4. The work of these Councils is being credited with bringing down the level of violence in Iraq, with even the leader of the Shiite grouping Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim praising the work of tribal groups and local councils for improvements in security.5 Over 30 were also killed at a gathering of mourners in eastern Baghdad on January 1 and 9 due to a suicide attack on Iraq’s Army National Day holiday on January 6.
    Reports also noted that Iraq accounted for the largest number of journalists killed in 2007, accounting for 65 out of the 134 killed worldwide. Somalia (with 8) and Pakistan (7) were the next most dangerous places for journalists to work in6.

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