The UN’s head of mission urged the Iraqi authorities to address the roots of the violence The United Nations says at least 7,818 civilians and 1,050 members of the security forces were killed in violent attacks across Iraq in 2013. December alone saw at least 759 people killed, 661 of them civilians. The annual toll is the highest in five years, but still significantly below those recoded at the height of the sectarian conflict in 2006 and 2007. Violence has surged since April, when the Shia-led government launched a crackdown on a Sunni protest camp. Extremist Sunni militants linked to al-Qaeda subsequently stepped up attacks across the country, while Shia groups began deadly reprisals. ‘Sad and terrible record’ Tensions […]