IRAQI TOLL IRAQI TOLL BAGHDAD (AP)  Iraq 's government said more than 85,000 Iraqis were killed from 2004 to 2008, officially answering one of the biggest questions of the conflict: how many perished in the sectarian violence that nearly led to a civil war. What remains unanswered by the government is how many died in the U.S. invasion in 2003 and in the months of chaos that followed it. A report by Iraq's Human Rights Ministry said 85,694 people were killed from the beginning of 2004 to Oct. 31, 2008, and 147,195 were wounded. The figures include Iraqi civilians, military and police but do not cover U.S. military deaths, insurgents or foreigners, including contractors. The Associated Press reported similar figures in April based on government statistics obtained by the AP showing that the government had recorded 87,215 Iraqi deaths from 2005 to February 2009. The deaths represent about 0.3% of Iraq's population of about 29 million. That would be akin to the USA losing about 900,000 people over a similar period. Violence in Iraq has declined dramatically since the height of the fighting though insurgent attacks continue. On Wednesday, three nearly simultaneous blasts struck the southern Shiite Muslim holy city of Karbala, killing at least six people. According to the ministry's report, the dead included 1,279 children and 2,334 women. At least 263 university professors, 21 judges, 95 lawyers and 269 journalists were killed — professions that had been targeted. According to the report, 2006 was the deadliest year, when 32,622 were killed or found dead. The count includes 15,000 unidentified bodies that were buried after going unclaimed by families. Ten thousand people were listed as missing, although Human Rights Ministry official Kamil Amin said it is not known whether there is overlap between the missing and unidentified counts. The report does not contain figures from 2003, a period during which there was no functioning Iraqi government. "The situation was chaotic. ... The whole country was in total anarchy," Amin said. Iraq Body Count— a private, London-based group that has tracked civilian deaths since the war began — puts the number of civilian fatalities as of Aug. 13 at 93,540 at least. The toll released by Iraq was based on death certificates issued by the Health Ministry. The tolls measure only violent deaths — people killed in attacks such as shootings, bombings, mortar attacks and beheadings. Although the Pentagon maintains meticulous records of the number of U.S. servicemembers killed — 4,339 as of Wednesday — it does not publicly release comprehensive Iraqi casualty figures. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more