Iraq violent death rates 'plunge'

The BBC grudgingly admits.

"The number of Iraqi civilians killed per month in bombings and shootings has fallen to the lowest level this year, the Iraqi government says.

In September, 884 civilians were killed by violence, less than half the figure for August, the government said.

The BBC's Jon Brain in Baghdad says the figures suggest the so-called surge involving 30,000 extra US troops is having some success.

September also saw the lowest number of US troops killed for more than a year."

The BBC has been monitoring the death toll since the surge began using a weekly updated graph on its website. But what does the BBC do when the death rates "plunge"? The BBC promptly stop updating the graph. Imagine that.