Figures 'to show coalition responsibility for Iraqi deaths'

More Iraqi civilians may have been killed by coalition forces and their allies than by insurgents, according to Iraqi government figures.

The figures, which have been compiled by Iraq’s Ministry of Health, will be disclosed on the BBC’s Panorama programme tomorrow.

They show coalition troops and Iraqi security forces were responsible for 60% of Iraqi civilian deaths in conflict-related violence in a six month period.

A total of 2,041 civilians were killed and a further 8,542 are believed to have been wounded by them between July 2004 and January 2005.

This compares with 1,233 killed and 4,115 wounded by insurgents.

The data comes from conflict-related civilian deaths and injuries recorded by Iraqi public hospitals.

It does not include the deaths of insurgents where they are known.

A BBC spokesman said the figures were usually only available to Iraqi Cabinet ministers but had been released to Panorama.

Dr Shakir Al-ainachi, of Iraqi’s Ministry of Health, confirmed the figures and said the vast majority of victims were men.

He said: “Casualties of car bombs and other clearly identifiable terrorist attacks are recorded as being caused by terrorist incidents. All other casualties are recorded as military action.”

He said the casualties may include insurgents and civilians as well as Iraqi police who were treated in Ministry of Health hospitals.

He defined coalition forces as Iraqi police, Iraqi security forces and the multi-national forces.

The BBC says that in an interview the US ambassador John Negroponte, prior to the release of the figures, said he believed the largest amount of civilian casualties were due to car bombings.

Mr Negroponte said in the interview: “My impression is that the largest amount of civilian casualties definitely is a result of these indiscriminate car bombings.

“You yourself are aware of those as they occur in the Baghdad area and more frequently than not the largest number of victims of these acts of terror are innocent civilian bystanders.”

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it would not make any comment on another international government’s statement.

Panorama’s film, Exit Strategy, reported by John Simpson from Baghdad, is due to be shown at 10.15pm tomorrow on BBC 1.