US Army reports spike in suicides

Suicides among US soldiers more than doubled in July compared to June, the Pentagon said Thursday, the latest evidence of a worrisome trend that has vexed military leaders.

Among active-duty troops, 26 soldiers killed themselves last month, compared to 12 in June, according to an army statement. The July toll was the highest for any single month since the Army began documenting suicides by month in 2009, officials said. AFP