Post-Surge, Iraq Death Toll Mounts

The average daily war-related death toll in Iraq has soared to 62 this year, up from 33 in 2006, and Baghdad is less perilous now than it was before the troop surge—but about as dangerous as it was a year ago. In a foreshadowing of next month's progress report, an AP analysis shows violence escalating outside the Iraqi capital.

The the death toll for 2007 so far is 1,000 higher than the total for all of last year, 14,800 to 13,811. Militants chased out of central Iraq account in part for the increased violence beyond Baghdad. The estimated numbers are minimums, the agency cautions; they include civilians and government officials but not insurgents.