Big rise in Afghan civilian deaths

Attacks against Afghan civilians have jumped in frequency and intensity in the first half of 2010, according to a report released on Tuesday by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

The 3,268 casualties mark a 31 per cent increase over the same period in 2009, the report said.

The UN said that the Taliban was responsible for around 76 per cent of those casualties.

Nato pointed out that the UN report showed a 64 per cent drop in the number of Afghans killed or wounded in coalition airstrikes.

Clayton Swisher reports from Kabul.