It is extraordinary because it is the highest such figure since that civil war subsided five years ago . Monthly death toll has doubled in Iraq ; now highest figure since end of war . Increasing violence is related to authoritarian streak of PM Nuri al - Maliki , says Dr Joshi . Joshi : Sectarian is closely linked to violence , concentrated in Sunni - majority areas . Too early to talk about Iraq 's break - up , he says , but there 's no obvious way out of it .
Monthly death toll has doubled in Iraq ; now highest figure since end of war . Increasing violence is related to authoritarian streak of PM Nuri al - Maliki , says Dr Joshi . Joshi : Sectarian is closely linked to violence , concentrated in Sunni - majority areas . Too early to talk about Iraq 's break - up , he says , but there 's no obvious way out of it .