From insurgent attacks to Internet connections, a look at Iraq by the numbers

By ROBIN HINDERYAssociated Press Writer

At the one-year mark since the U.S. handover of sovereignty in Iraq, the numbers behind the conflict shed light on the progress made, and the insurgent-driven turmoil that threatens to tear apart the fledgling democracy. There have been positive developments since June 28, 2004, the most notable being the election of the 275-member National Assembly on Jan. 30, Iraq’s first free election in a half-century. The assembly appointed the rest of the government the following month.

But smaller gains have been made as well.

The number of telephone and Internet subscribers has increased nearly threefold, according to the Washington-based Brookings Institution, and the number of trained Iraqi judges has doubled.

At the same time, an insurgency comprised of an estimated 16,000 Iraqi militants and foreign fighters continues to create havoc across the country.

Car bombings have become one of the most devastating methods used by the insurgency. As of June 26, there had been more than 482 car bombs since the handover, according to an Associated Press count, killing at least 2,176 people and wounding at least 5,536.

And 885 American personnel have been killed in the past year, according to an AP count, more than half of all U.S. casualties since the war began in March 2003. Seventy-four non-U.S. coalition troops have been killed since June 28, 2004, bringing the total to 187.

Many countries have already set specific dates for the withdrawal of their troops. In recent weeks, pressure has been mounting among both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. for President Bush to establish a formal exit strategy for American forces. A small bipartisan group in Congress has called for Bush to set a final exit deadline for Oct. 1, 2006.

On Friday, when Bush met Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari at the White House said: ‘‘There are not going to be any timetables’’ for a withdrawal of American forces. AlJaafari concurred, saying, ‘‘This is not the time to fall back.’’

Here’s a look at some of the numbers behind the news, most compiled by AP:

¦ 885 — American military personnel killed (June 28, 2004-June 26, 2005).

¦ 1,735 — Total U.S. Military deaths since March 20, 2003, when the war began.

¦ 74 — Non-U.S. coalition troop fatalities (June 28, 2004-June 26, 2005).

¦ 187 — Total non-U.S. coalition troop fatalities since March 20, 2003.

¦ 12,000 — Iraqi civilians killed (March 20, 2003-June 2, 2005), according to Iraqi Interior Minister.

¦ 16,000 — Estimated number of insurgents as of May 2005.

¦ 482 — Car bombings (June 28, 2004-June 26, 2005).

¦ 2,176 — Deaths from those car bombings in the past year.

¦ 5,536 — People wounded in car bombings in the past year.

¦ 52 — Assassinations of Iraqi government, legal or religious officials (June 28, 2004-June 26, 2005).

¦ 200 — Non-Iraqis taken hostage (March 20, 2003-June 26, 2005).

¦ 14 — Americans taken hostage (March 20, 2003-June 26, 2005).