BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The fighting that erupted in Baghdad's Sadr City last month has killed 925 people and wounded 2,605, a top government official said Wednesday. Iraqis mourn outside the Sadr City hospital Wednesday after several people were killed in clashes. Most of the casualties consist of civilians and "criminal elements attacked by us," said Tahseen al-Sheikhly, a spokesman for the Baghdad security crackdown called Operation Enforcing the Law. Civilians are being caught in the crossfire because militants "use the population to cover themselves," al-Sheikhly said. The number of Iraqi civilians killed and wounded nationwide continued to increase during April. According to Iraq's Interior Ministry, 969 civilians died and 1,750 were wounded during April. In March, the total was 923 civilians killed and 1,358 wounded -- a sharp increase over February, when 633 died and 701 were wounded.
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NEW: 3 U.S. soldiers killed in 2 roadside bombs; total U.S. death toll at 4,062
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Government attacks on militants will stop when insurgency stops, official says
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Official: Civilians killed because militants "use the population to cover themselves"
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Iraqi security forces, Shiite militants have been fighting in Sadr City for weeks
Three U.S. soldiers in Iraq were killed Wednesday in two roadside bombings, the @placeholder military said.