by Laura MacInnis, Reuters, July 31, 2009
GENEVA – The Afghan battlefield is spreading into residential areas where more people are being killed by air strikes, car bombs and suicide attacks, according to a U.N. report published on Friday.
![[File photo shows a British soldier talking with Afghan children during a patrol on the outskirts of Kabul. (AFP/File/Shah Marai)]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ufAyjTxZu7wW2J-Qt4JtkT-eRXP5IPA_EhZ0a-nwVWA5kAxpySFk-QcDRyUaVwJzgb3vQ7jQTv1493_lslmdpaiPQ1IVs468s1xSbr5zcsrsAddsYxpRojSEtMdkJhDkciUOiZVcmePJvwGoa9RbWLCMUqb90CFA=s0-d "risingciviliancasualties_afghan.jpg")
File photo shows a British soldier talking with Afghan children during a patrol on the outskirts of Kabul. (AFP/File/Shah Marai)The U.N. Assistance Mission to Afghanistan said that 1,013 civilians were killed on the sidelines of their country’s armed conflict from January to the end of June, compared to 818 in the first half of 2008 and 684 in the same period in 2007.
Commenting on the report, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said it was critical that steps be taken to shield Afghan communities from fighting.
“All parties involved in this conflict should take all measures to protect civilians, and to ensure the independent investigation of all civilian casualties, as well as justice and remedies for the victims,” the South African said.
Tags: Afghanistan, war, UN report, civilians killed, Navi Pillay, Laura MacInnis, residential areas, U.S.-led forces
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