There were 302 civilians killed and more than 900 others wounded in January in violent attacks across Iraq, the highest figure since 2007, the United Nations said in a report published on Thursday, DPA reported.
The number of executions from December to February stood at 80, compared to the total of 68 from January to November last year, the report said in reviewing the human rights situation in Iraq. It called on Baghdad to suspend the death penalty.
The report said Iraq has made commendable progress since the complete withdrawal of US troops from the country in December. It praised Iraq for reintegrating itself into the Arab world, which was demonstrated by the holding of the Arab League summit this week in Baghdad.
"Notwithstanding the general improvement in the security situation in recent years, I remain concerned by the high level of attacks against civilians, which continue to take place on an almost daily basis," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in the report.
The report said many attacks targeted civilians, including car bombs against religious gatherings.
Iraq is among the 20 countries in the world that still apply the capital punishment. The report said those executed in the December-February period had been convicted of crimes under Iraq's anti-terrorist laws, including a foreigner and a woman.
The UN has asked for details on individuals executed and charges against them, but no information had come from Baghdad, the report said.
Amnesty International said in a survey this week that the number of known executions had surged in 2011, with most of them from four countries: Iraq, with 68 executions; Iran with at least 360 executions; Saudi Arabia, at least 82 and Yemen, 41.