According to Iraqi government figures released this weekend, July was the deadliest month in Iraq since May 2008 with a total of 535 people killed across the country as a result of violence. The figures show a sharp upswing in the level of violence nearly five months after parliamentary elections which have yet to result in the formation of a new government and as the United States continues a major withdrawal of its forces. A total of 396 civilians, 89 policemen and 50 soldiers died in attacks in July. The death toll is the highest for a single month since May 2008 when 563 people were killed in violence. The figures also showed that 1,043 people – 680 civilians, 198 policemen and 165 soldiers – were injured in attacks this month, the highest such number this year. The data also showed that 100 insurgents were killed and 955 were arrested.