Monthly death toll in Iraq lowest since war began

BAGHDAD, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The numbers of Iraqi civilians and U.S. troops killed in Iraq have hit their lowest levels since the war began in 2003, monthly tallies showed on Friday.

Iraqi government figures showed 238 civilians were killed this month, the lowest number since U.S. forces invaded in 2003.

The figures show a sharp drop over the past year. In October last year 758 civilians were killed, while from Sept. 2006 to Aug. 2007 the monthly toll was never lower than 1,000.

Just seven U.S. service members were killed in hostile action in October, the lowest monthly toll of the war according to statistics from the Web site www.icasualties.org which collates official data.

Eight were killed in hostile action last month, while 30 were killed in hostile action in October 2007. In April and May 2007, the monthly U.S. death toll ran higher than 100.

Violence in Iraq has fallen sharply over the last year, a trend which is attributed to a boost in U.S. troop levels in 2007, the decision by Sunni tribes to support U.S. security efforts, and a ceasefire imposed on Shi'ite militants.

The United States, which has about 150,000 troops in Iraq, plans to withdraw about 8,000 troops from Iraq by February.

Iraqi and U.S. officials are struggling to conclude a bilateral pact that would provide U.S. troops a legal basis to operate in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires at the end of the year. It would allow U.S. troops to stay in Iraq through 2011. (Writing by Missy Ryan)