1,000 Afghan civilians killed in deadliest 6 months: UN
By South Asia correspondent Sally Sara

Posted 1 hour 34 minutes ago
Updated 1 hour 35 minutes ago

The United Nations says more than 1,000 civilians have been killed in the conflict in Afghanistan in the first six months of this year, making the death toll 24 per cent higher than the same period last year.

This has been the deadliest six months for civilians in Afghanistan, since the US led invasion.

The report says insurgents were responsible for most of the deaths but 41 per cent were attributed to government and Coalition forces.

The UN says increased insurgent bombings, and air strikes by international forces are the biggest killers.

Violence has escalated after a surge in foreign troops, especially in the south of the country.

The Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called on foreign forces to do more to reduce civilian casualties.

But the Taliban are urging their supporters to wage a holy war in the lead up to the presidential election on August 20.

source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation