Civilian deaths in Afghanistan increase

A United Nations report today says that at least 1,013 civilians were killed in the first half of 2009, a 24% increase from the same period in 2008.

The report may be found here.

The Taliban kill more civilians than international forces:

The Taliban and its affiliates were responsible for about 60% of deaths, mainly through roadside bombs, and pro-government forces, mainly the US, for 30%, mainly through airstrikes. There has been a shift in those proportions from 2007, when the insurgents accounted for 46% and the US and its allies for 41% of civilian deaths. But the number of civilians killed by International Forces has nevertheless increased in absolute numbers (even if the proportion of total deaths attributed to them has decreased).