US Troop Deaths in Iraq At Wartime Low

U.S. military deaths in Iraq plunged in May to the lowest monthly total since the war began, while Iraqi military and civilian casualties also fell sharply. The U.S. military said Sunday that 19 U.S. servicemen were killed in Iraq last month, the lowest number since the U.S.-led invasion of 2003.

The toll for May is one fewer than the previous monthly low for U.S. military deaths - 20 - set in February of 2004. Nearly 4,100 U.S. military deaths have occurred since the war began.

The Iraqi Health and Defense Ministries say their figures for May show about 550 Iraqi civilians and security forces were killed last month, down from more than 1,000 in April.

Also Sunday, Australia ended combat operations in Iraq, pulling its 500 soldiers from their bases in the south of the country. The removal of the battle group fulfills an election promise by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to bring the soldiers home this year.

A close U.S. ally, Australia was one of the first countries to commit troops to the Iraq war. U.S. forces are to replace the Australian troops.

In other developments Sunday, Iraqi police say a car bomb exploded in central Baghdad near the Iranian Embassy killing at least two people and wounding five. The wounded included three embassy guards.

The embassy is located just outside the Green Zone.

At least nine people were killed Saturday in a suicide bombing at a police checkpoint in a town west of Baghdad. Authorities in the town of Hit said at least one of the victims was a police officer.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

by VOA News

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