Iraq Death Toll in April Rises

The number of Iraqis killed in April increased from the previous month, but stayed near its lowest level since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, according to official figures released on Tuesday.

In total, 126 Iraqis -- 88 civilians, 18 policemen and 20 soldiers -- died in attacks nationwide, figures compiled by the ministries of health, interior and defense showed.

That compared with 112 Iraqis in March, the lowest monthly figure since the invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.

A total of 271 people were wounded in violence last month, including 132 civilians, 89 policemen and 50 soldiers. The figures also showed that 25 insurgents were killed and 185 arrested.

Last month's worst violence took place on April 19, when a wave of coordinated shootings and bombings in seven different provinces killed 38 people. The attacks were claimed by al-Qaida the following day.

On April 26, a suicide car bombing near a cafe and another bomb attack inside it killed eight people in central Iraq, while bomb attacks in Baghdad killed four others.