BBC News
January 1, 2010
The independent Iraq Body Count group puts the number of civilian deaths for the year up to 16 December at 4,497, less than half the 2008 total of 9,226.
[efoods]However, it says the impact of security improvements has levelled off and more large-scale attacks are being launched.
Official Iraqi statistics put the number of civilian deaths much lower.
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, who is running for re-election in March, has come under pressure over recent deadly attacks in Baghdad, Mosul and elsewhere.
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