An international group of public health experts has called on the US and UK governments to commission an independent inquiry into Iraqi war related casualties.

“We believe that the joint US-UK failure to make any effort to monitor Iraqi casualties is, from a public health perspective, wholly irresponsible,” says the public statement, signed by 23 experts in public health and epidemiology from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Spain, and Australia. “We have waited too long for this information.”

The British government's reliance on Iraqi Ministry of Health figures is “unacceptable,” argue the signatories. These figures “are likely seriously to underestimate casualties,” as they cover only April 2004 to October 2004, include only violent …