More than 500 people were killed in Iraq in May. This is the second consecutive month casualties have exceeded 400. A coordinated wave of car bombings tore through predominantly Shi'ite areas of Baghdad on Monday, killing 58 people and maiming 187 people. UN Secretary General’s Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq Martin Kobler, once again urged Iraqi leaders to accelerate the dialogue process in order to end Iraq’s long political crisis in the last months. Kobler said Iraq’s leaders must take responsibility for its citizens’ lives and take bold steps to end Iraq’s political deadlock.

Scene of a suicide bombing in Iraq (Photo: CNN)