Afghan Civilian Deaths Soar 39%

Death toll is highest since invasion of 2001
By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 17, 2009 6:18 AM CST
Afghan Civilian Deaths Soar 39%
The civilian death toll in Afghanistan in 2008 was the highest since the American invasion seven years ago.   (AP Photo)

Civilian casualties in Afghanistan rose by 39% last year, according to the UN. Some 2,118 Afghans died in 2008, the highest figure since the Taliban were removed from power in 2001. Of those deaths, 55% were blamed on militants, the BBC reports, while 39% resulted from US, NATO, and Afghan forces. NATO, however, has rejected the figures as too high.
(More death toll stories.)

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