A new tally shows the number of civilians killed in Iraq rose in 2012 for the first time in three years. The British-based group, Iraq Body Count, says about 4,500 civilians were killed in violence last year. The group said in a statement: “The latest evidence suggests that the country remains in a state of low-level war little changed since early 2009.” Iraq Body Count’s figure is more than twice the number given by Iraqi officials who claim violence is actually dropping. On Monday, at least 23 people were killed and 87 wounded in a series of attacks across Iraq.