Iraqi government statistics show at least 1,771 civilians were killed in the country in August, a slight increase from July.

An Iraqi boy picks through the rubble after a coordinated suicide attack in town of Qahataniya, 120 kilometers west of Mosul, Iraq, 15 Aug 2007

That figure includes the more than 400 people killed August 14 in a massive bomb attack on the minority Yazidi community in northern Iraq. In July, more than 1,650 civilians were reported killed in Iraq.

The U.S. military says radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's decision this week to stop Mahdi Army militia activities will allow coalition forces to intensify operations against al-Qaida in Iraq.

Also Saturday, the U.S. military said coalition forces killed seven terrorists and detained 15 others during operations Friday and earlier in Baghdad and in northern and central Iraq. It said that among the terrorists killed today was a member of a group that enforces rules for an illegal terrorist court system in Tarmiyah.

Earlier, coalition troops raided the Baghdad stronghold of the Mahdi Army, Sadr City, and detained three other people. A U.S. military vehicle hit a roadside bomb while returning from the operation, but there were no casualties reported.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.