Ministries: 150 Iraqis killed in February attacks

The number of Iraqis killed in February almost matched the death toll recorded the previous month but the number of people wounded in attacks rose, officials figures released on Thursday showed. In total, 150 Iraqis -- 91 civilians, 39 policemen and 20 soldiers -- were killed in attacks countrywide, according to interior, defence and health ministry figures. That marks one of the lowest monthly toll since 2003 and compares to 151 -- 99 civilians, 31 policemen and 21 soldiers -- killed in January. But the number of people wounded in February rose to 352 -- 180 civilians, 95 policemen and 77 soldiers, compared to 321 the month before. The figures also showed that 33 insurgents were killed and 104 arrested. Violence has diminished in the past years from its peak in 2006 and 2007 at the height of the sectarian conflict here, but attacks remain common. Violence last month included a suicide car bombing at a Baghdad police academy on the 19th that killed 15 people, and a wave of bombings and shootings that left at least 42 people dead across Iraq on February 23.