아래 CNN 기사에 따르면 이라크에서 지난 10월에 테러, 보복살인 등으로 죽은 이라크 민간인이 3709명으로 이라크 전쟁 이후 최고를 기록했다. 9월분까지 합치면 약7000명이 죽었다. 최근 들어서 매달 약10만 명의 이라크 국민들이 이 나라를 떠난다고 한다. 내전의 양상은 주로 시아파와 순니파 사이의 血戰이다. 지난 2월 시아파의 사원이 폭파당한 이후 빚어진 사태이다. 시아파와 순니파는 얼굴이 다른 것도 아니고 똑 같이 코란을 읽는 똑 같은 이슬람 신도들이다. 그럼에도 테러리스트들이 선동하니 이런 피의 보복이 벌어지고 있다. 지역과 계층간의 증오심을 선동하는 정치인들만큼 나쁜 인간들이 없다. 이런 선동가가 없을 때는 평화롭게 살던 사람들도 증오심과 공포심을 자극하는 선동이 시작되면 짐승이 된다. 한국에서 양극화를 선동하고 지역감정을 부추키는 정치인들은 국민공동체를 파괴하고 피를 부르는 자들이다. 어제 있었던 폭력시위는 불길한 예감을 준다. 한국 사회에 증오심을 확산시킨 盧대통령에게는 반드시 국가분열의 책임을 물어야 한다.
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U.N.: Iraqi civilian death toll reaches new monthly high
POSTED: 1538 GMT (2338 HKT), November 22, 2006


Story Highlights• The U.N. says more than 7,000 Iraqi civilians died in September and October
• October was deadliest month since the 2003 U.S. invasion, the report says
• Sectarian strife and terrorism are to blame for the violence, the report finds
• Attacks have risen against journalists, women, minorities and professionals

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BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Insurgent attacks in Iraq killed 3,709 civilians last month, making October the deadliest month since the war began in 2003, according to U.N. figures.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Iraq, which issues bimonthly human rights reports on the war-torn country, came out with its findings for September and October on Wednesday.

September had 3,345 civilian deaths -- which, along with October, would bring to 7,054 the number of violent deaths during the two-month period, according to the U.N. tally.

Baghdad alone had no less than 4,985 deaths, 'most of them as a result of gunshot wounds,' said the U.N. Assistance Mission, using figures provided by the Iraqi Health Ministry.

The figures were slightly higher than in July and August, when 6,599 civilians were killed.

The number of civilian deaths has been rising all year since the February bombing of a Shiite shrine in Samarra, north of Baghdad, with sectarian violence escalating greatly after that attack.

Sunni-Shiite hostilities, with revenge killings, mosque attacks, and militias and death squads prominent, were central to Iraq's problems, the report found.

The report attributes the grinding violence to 'terrorist acts and sectarian strife, including revenge killings, fueled by insurgent, militia and criminal activities.'

Such attacks 'are the main source of violence in the country, adversely affecting the displacement of individuals and entire communities,' it said.

And that 'violence in Iraq has been increasingly acquiring a sectarian nature, with each attack generating a surge of revenge attacks in Baghdad and around the country.'

In addition, civilians face 'roadside bombs, drive-by shootings, kidnappings, police abuse, crime, military operations and cross fire between rival gangs, or between insurgents and police and MNF-I (Multi-National Forces-Iraq),' the report said.

The report noted 'allegations of criminal and militia infiltration into the police,' adding that 'the inability of law enforcement agencies and the justice system to protect the population of Iraq' enables 'militias and criminal gangs to operate with growing impunity.'

The U.N. mission said it welcomed tougher vetting of police personnel by the Iraqi Interior Ministry.

Journalists, other groups targeted
Among the ominous developments noted in September and October:


Media were victims of attacks. Eighteen journalists were killed during this period, and two satellite TV stations -- Al-Shaabiya and Al Iraqiya -- were attacked.


Minorities have been attacked, including Christians, Sabean-Mandeans and Palestinian refugees.


More women have been subjected to religious extremism or honor killings, and non-Muslim women have been 'forced to wear a head scarf and to be accompanied by spouses or male relatives.'


Professionals -- such as judges, lawyers and intellectuals; political, tribal and religious leaders; government officials; and members of security forces -- have been targeted.


Education has suffered, with schools not opening, and teachers and students 'forced to leave the country.'


Mass kidnappings of civilians, with bodies being subjected to torture and execution-style killings. Witnesses have seen perpetrators wearing militia attire and police or army uniforms.


The number of missing persons has risen.


Security concerns persist in the detention of prisoners, with 'arbitrary detention, grievous conditions of detention, allegations of torture and mistreatment' and prisoners.

Grim demographic changes
The sectarian violence has affected entire communities and spurred thousands to flee their homes, the report said.

'In some areas, neighborhoods have been split up or inhabitants have been forced to flee to other areas or even to neighboring countries in search of safety,' it said.

Sectarian violence has led to the displacement of more than 418,000 people, and military operations have forced 15,240 to leave their homes since the February shrine bombing, the report said, citing estimates from the U.N. refugee agency.

In addition, 1.6 million have left the country altogether since 2003, and some 100,000 per month have left Iraq during the past few months, the report said, again citing estimates from the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

The report noted the failure of an international pan-Muslim initiative to bring together the warring religious groups as an example of the obstacles toward peace.

The October gathering in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca between Iraqi Shiite and Sunni clerics was sponsored by the Organization of the Islamic Conference, an international Muslim group.