U.N. report finds 2009 deadliest year in terms of civilian casualties in Afghanistan

KABUL, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- A U.N. report has describes 2009 as the deadliest year in terms of civilian casualties in Afghanistan ever since the commencement of U.S.-led war against Taliban and al-Qaida militants in the country.

Facts about civilian casualties have been presented in a report on "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security," which the U.N. secretary general released on Saturday.

The report says 1,500 civilians had been killed in attacks by both the Taliban insurgents and the Afghan and the international forces up to the month of August.

According to UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) mid-year bulletin, which presented contents of the report, the highest number of casualties took place in the month of August.

The report blames some 68 percent of civilian casualties on Taliban attacks while holding the pro-government forces responsible for remaining of the casualties.

The largest number of casualties, the report says, took place as a result of improvised explosive devices (IED) blasts planted by Taliban, followed by suicide attacks mounted by the latter, and airstrikes by pro-government forces.

The fresh report reflects on the increasing trend in insecurity over recent months.

Going by facts and figures accumulated by the world body it seems that the number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan is constantly increasing on monthly basis ever since 2005.

In the past, human rights organizations and media have mostly been blaming the international forces for civilian casualties in Afghanistan.