Russia: Suicides top non-combat deaths

MOSCOW, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Russian military officials say more than half of the 442 soldiers who died in non-combat incidents last year committed suicide.

In 2007, 224 soldiers killed themselves, 15 died in hazing accidents and 23 died due to negligence, the Russian Defense Ministry revealed on its Web site.

The remaining non-combat deaths in 2007 were due to accidents, including the deaths of 41 soldiers in traffic accidents, RIA Novosti reported Saturday.