US insists Iraq violence not on uptick during Ramadan

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The US military said Thursday that a wave of bombings across Iraq this week that left at least 70 people dead did not signify an upturn in violence during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Despite the 10 separate car bombings and suicide attacks across Iraq on Wednesday, a spokesman insisted the first fortnight of Ramadan had been relatively peaceful compared to last year.

"From 2005 to 2006, for the first two weeks of Ramadan, there was approximately an 80 percent increase in the level of security incidents," Lieutenant Justin Cole told AFP.

"From 2006 to 2007, for the first two weeks of Ramadan, there was approximately a 38 decrease in the level of security incidents."

Colonel Stephen Twitty blamed Al-Qaeda, which had promised a new offensive during Ramadan, for four of the suicide bomb attacks in northern Iraq.