1,075 Iraqis killed in recent fighting

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 24 (UPI) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights announced Tuesday that at least 1,075 Iraqis have been killed since the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria launched its lightning offensive in early June.

Citing reports from the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq's human rights team, at least 757 people were killed in Nineveh, Diyala, and Salahdin provinces between June 5 and 22.

"This figure," UNHCHR said, "should be viewed very much as a minimum [and] includes a number of verified summary executions and extra-judicial killings of civilians, police, and soldiers who were hors combat."

Another 318 people were killed in Baghdad and southern areas during the same time period, many by vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.

UNAMI also reported 1,189 were injured and an unspecified number abducted.

UNHCHR spokesman Rupert Colville issued a plea on Tuesday for accountability: "We urge the Iraqi authorities to swiftly carry out their obligation to thoroughly investigate these, and any other, reported summary executions and all other violations by their personnel, and to make a concerted effort to bring all perpetrators to justice."