Global terrorism deaths rose 40 per cent in 2006 -US

WASHINGTON, Apr 30 (Reuters) The number of people killed by ''terrorism'' around the world last year rose by about 40 percent to 20,498 from 14,618 largely because of violence in Iraq, a US government report said today.

The numbers were compiled by the US National Counterterrorism Center and included in the US State Department's annual ''Country Reports on Terrorism'' publication, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.

Reuters JK DB2248