December is deadliest month in 2006 for U.S. forces, and Iraqi citizens

Three U.S. Marines were killed in Iraq today, bringing the total number of U.S. service members killed in Iraq this month to 106, surpassing October's number of 105, making December the deadliest month of 2006 for the U.S. in Iraq.

The Associated Press reports that by their count, the total number of U.S. service members killed in Iraq since the start of the war in March 2003 now stands at 2,993.

According to the AP, December 2006 was ALREADY the deadliest month for Iraqi civilians:

Already, December was shaping up to be one of the worst months for Iraqi civilian deaths since The Associated Press began keeping track in May 2005.

Through Thursday, at least 2,139 Iraqis have been killed (in just the month of December) in war-related or sectarian violence, an average rate of about 76 people a day, according to an AP count. That compares to at least 2,184 killed in November at an average of about 70 a day, the worst month for Iraqi civilians deaths since May 2005. In October, AP counted at least 1,216 civilians killed.

Iraqi civilians, government officials, police, and security forces are included in the count. The AP says it's tally is merely a "minimum based on AP reporting," and the actual number is likely higher since many deaths go unreported.