UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- A U.N. report, painting a grim picture of civilian bloodshed and rights abuses, recommends Iraq authorities focus on fighting lawlessness and impunity.
The U.N. Assistance Mission in Iraq report released Monday examining events from Sept. 1-Oct. 31 said conditions fuel a pervasive climate of fear.
"The right of victims to timely justice and redress should be central to any strategy to combat violations," UNAMI said. "Iraq would benefit from enhanced accountability systems and increased efforts to combat impunity for crimes committed by all sides of the conflict."
Military and security operations by the multinational forces and the Iraqi forces aimed at restoring law and order, "including the resort to aerial bombardment," negatively affected human rights, the report said.
Repeated bombing campaigns by armed groups against civilians and Mosques "are increasing fears that community relations are descending into a pattern of fear, animosity and revenge."
Military operations continue to send people fleeing and cause hardship for thousands of families, with a "devastating" impact on civilians, it said.
During the period covered, cumulative civilian deaths from the 2003 outbreak of hostilities had reached between 26,000 and 30,000, and there was widespread displacement from aerial bombing, as well as a pattern of illegal searches and detention by authorities, the report said.
Hundreds of civilians have been killed and wounded as a result of terrorist attacks, targeted assassinations and extrajudicial execution-style killings, said the study. Five journalists and media workers were killed, bringing the total since the U.S.-led invasion began to 74.
"The large number of detainees held in the country remains a matter of concern," following mass arrests carried out during military operations under the jurisdiction of the multinational force, the report said.
