Quarter million Iraqis flee sectarian violence

BAGHDAD - A quarter of a million Iraqis have fled sectarian violence and registered as refugees in the past seven months, according to data released on Thursday.

The United States says violence in Iraq has surged in the last two weeks, and this past week, the first of Ramadan, saw the most suicide bombs of any week since the war began in 2003.

The registered refugee figures showed 40,000 families - 240,000 people - claiming assistance, up from 27,000 families in July. The figures do not include an uncounted number of Iraqis who have moved home without claiming aid.

"The reason for this increase is that the security situation in some provinces has deteriorated considerably, forcing people to leave their homes in fear for their lives," said Migration Ministry spokesman Sattar Nowruz.

- REUTERS