U.N. blames all sides for Afghan civilian deaths

By Hamid Shalizi

KABUL (Reuters) - United Nations Humans Rights envoy Louise Arbour criticized both Taliban insurgents and international troops in Afghanistan on Tuesday for killing civilians.

There has been a steady escalation of violence in Afghanistan this year, and the United Nations estimates the number of security incidents has risen by 20 to 30 percent from last year.

More than 200 civilians have been killed by Taliban suicide bombs this year, and overall some 1,200 civilians have died, about half in operations by Afghan and international troops.

Afghanistan's biggest problems -- poverty, drug production, corruption and weak government -- are all linked to the lack of security due to the Taliban insurgency.

"Some seem to think that human rights are a luxury that can be enjoyed only after security is ensured. But the major sources of insecurity in the country stem from human rights violations or the failure effectively to address the violations of the past," Arbour told a news conference in the capital, Kabul.

She said the Taliban had deliberately targeted civilians, including teachers and humanitarian workers. They also use ordinary Afghans as human shields, targeting troops and taking shelter in civilians' homes, she said.

"The use of human shields is itself a contravention of international humanitarian law," she said. "The fact that one side of the conflict uses human shields does not relieve the other side of its obligation to do everything to minimize the danger to civilian life."

"SOBER REALISATION"

She said civilian casualties from operations by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan had reached "alarming levels".

"These not only breach international law, but are eroding support among the Afghan community for the government and international military presence, as well as public support in contributing states for continued engagement in Afghanistan," she said.

International troops say they do everything in their power to minimize civilian casualties and ISAF says it has already changed procedures for launching airstrikes, which are blamed for killing most civilians.

"I am reassured that there has been a sober realization by ISAF commanders of this concern and a willingness to address the issue in a constructive way," Arbour said, but she urged ISAF to be responsive in offering compensation to victims' families.

The shortage of troops in Afghanistan -- a third of the number in Iraq -- leads the military to rely more on airstrikes to overcome insurgent attacks. There are four times as many airstrikes in Afghanistan as in Iraq.

Arbour said there needed to be more progress in prosecuting those responsible for war crimes during the last 30 years of war in Afghanistan. Parliament, packed with former warlords, voted an amnesty this year for past war crimes.

She said progress in women's rights had also been disappointing.