Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


UN: Afghan Civilian Deaths Highest in 2009

   VOA News 13 January 2010

Photo: AP

   A car bomb burns near a building in Kabul, Afghanistan, 15 Dec 2009

   The  United Nations says the number of civilians killed in war-related
   violence  in Afghanistan reached its highest level last year since the
   conflict began in 2001.
   In  a report released Wednesday, the U.N. attributes the vast majority
   of Afghan civilian casualties to Taliban attacks.
   Civilian casualties have been a sensitive subject in Afghanistan, with
   U.S.   forces  frequently  accused  of  killing  Afghan  civilians  in
   airstrikes.
   NATO  said  Wednesday  an  improvised explosive device killed two U.S.
   service members in eastern Afghanistan.
   In  Afghanistan's  southern  Kandahar  province,  a  car  bomb wounded
   several civilians and at least two Afghan police officers.
   On  Tuesday, the U.S. Defense Department said it has ordered more than
   3,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, as part of a surge approved by
   President Barack Obama.
   A  Pentagon spokesman, Bryan Whitman, said 2,600 soldiers, mostly from
   the  Fort Hood, Texas base, will be headed to Afghanistan, accompanied
   by about 500 support troops.
   Also  Tuesday, NATO denied allegations that foreign troops opened fire
   on  demonstrators  protesting  the alleged desecration of the Koran in
   southern  Helmand  province.   But  Afghan officials in the province's
   Garmsir   district  said  the  clashes  between  security  forces  and
   protesters left at least six people dead.
   NATO acknowledged that troops were present at the protest, but it said
   an  insurgent  sniper  was firing on the crowd.  The alliance said its
   troops identified and killed the gunman.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

.