UN: Civilian deaths 'soared' in Afghanistan

The Associated Press, citing statistics from the United Nations, is reporting that civilian war causalities rose 14 percent in 2009 over the year before (2,412 civilians killed in 2009).

Nearly 70 percent of civilian deaths last year, or 1,630, were caused by Taliban suicide bombings and other attacks, the report found.

NATO and allied Afghan forces were responsible for 25 percent of the deaths, or 596, the U.N. said, down from 39 percent, or 828, in 2008.

The U.N. report concludes: Many Afghans now blame the violence on the Taliban rather than foreign forces.

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