Civilian Deaths Caused by War Rise in Afghanistan

"A United Nations report blaming a record loss of Afghan civilian lives last year on insurgents and the Taliban was dismissed as "untrue" by a Taliban spokesman Saturday. Meanwhile, a commander of the International Security Assistance Force was encouraged by the report's findings that coalition forces were not to blame for the increased casualties, but agreed that civilian deaths must drop. The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said 3,021 civilians were killed last year, up from 2,790 the prior year."

Read the rest of the article in "Conflict-related civilian deaths rise in Afghanistan", CNN, February 4, 2012. The commander of ISAF issued a statement saying he was encouraged by reports that ISAF-caused civlian casualties had gone down.  See "U.N. Report on Civilian Casulaties Encourages ISAF Commander", American Forces Press Service, February 6, 2012.  The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has issued a press release - "Civlian Casualties Rise for Fifth Consecutive Year in Afghan Conflict", February 4, 2012.