BAGHDAD, May 2 (UPI) -- A series of big explosions in April helped push the death toll in Iraq to 355 for the month, the bloodiest so far this year, officials said.

The death count did not include at least 80 Iranian pilgrims slain in the country, but does include 290 Iraqi civilians, making for a worrying trend of more non-combatants being targeted by militants as U.S. troops prepare for withdrawal, the BBC reported Saturday.


April also marked the bloodiest month so far in 2009 for U.S. troops, with 12 soldiers slain, military figures indicate.

Official death toll numbers issued by three Iraqi ministries showed April experienced a 40 percent jump, including 65 soldiers or police officers, who are often the targets of bombings, the BBC said.

The numbers reportedly were impacted by bomb attacks that claimed at least 150 lives in just two days.