U.S. Marines return enemy fire last month during operations in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. Joe Raedle / Getty ImagesIn Afghanistan, Taliban Kills More Civilians Than US -- Christian Science Monitor
According to a new UN report, the number of civilians killed by both sides in the conflict has risen nearly 50 percent since 2007.
New Delhi - Civilian deaths in the Afghanistan conflict surged 24 percent in the first half of 2009, according to a new report from the United Nations. Anger over the misuse of force has become a top issue among Afghans, prompting leaders on both sides recently to issue directives to their fighters to minimize civilian casualties.
The UN report is a bad news, good news document for the US and its Afghan allies. The 21-page report (PDF), issued July 31, found that insurgents killed almost twice as many civilians in the first six months of the year as the coalition did (595 deaths against 309). The UN said it was a "significant shift" from the first half of 2007, when insurgent groups killed 298 civilians and US and allied forces killed 265. In the first half of 2008 the split was 495 to 276.
Nevertheless, the absolute number of civilians killed by both sides continued to rise.
Read more ....
More News On Afghanistan
Afghanistan commander General Stanley McChrystal to call for more US troops -- Times Online
General: More troops may be needed in Afghan war -- AP
Offensive against Taliban in Full Swing in Afghanistan's South -- Voice of America
2 more US troops killed in deadliest month of Afghan war -- Boston.com/Reuters
NATO soldier killed in Afghanistan -- AFP
Afghan war troop deaths surged in July -- L.A. Times
Civilian Toll Rising in Afghanistan, U.N. Says -- New York Times
UN: Civilian Death Toll Rises in Afghanistan -- Voice of America
New Taliban code: Don't kill civilians, don't take ransom -- Christian Science Monitor
Iraq experience helps stem the growth of evil flowers in Afghanistan -- The Australian
Army missteps left troops in Afghanistan open to deadly attack, study reveals -- Seattle Times
Afghanistan Goes Digital With Link to Internet -- ABC News
Government reform key to Afghanistan effort -- UPI