“Assad the murderer,” hundreds of  protesters chanted against the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad outside Syria’s consulate in Istanbul. The demonstration comes in response to what Syrian opposition groups claim was the killing of scores of people in the shelling of an opposition neighborhood in the city of Homs on Friday.

Homs is one of the main centers of opposition to the Syrian president.  Damascus has denied its security forces attacked Homs. But such denials did little to quell the anger of protestors.

“He will burn the country to stay on the chair, So to secure their position they are pushing for this sectarian war actually,” said one protester.

Along with condemning President Assad  there was also strong condemnation of Russia.

Addressing the protestors, one of the demonstrator organizers accused Moscow of also being responsible for the ongoing bloodshed. Moscow has continued to supply arms to Damascus and has opposed international efforts in the U.N. Security Council  to take a tough stance against the ongoing crackdown by Syrian security forces.

The Turkish foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, speaking in response to the Homs attack, called on the United Nations to take a  clear and precise position on the subject of civilian losses.

Ankara has broken with its once close ally Damascus over the ongoing crackdown on dissent and is now strongly backing the Syrian opposition.

“Assad the murderer,” hundreds of  protesters chanted against the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad outside Syria’s consulate in Istanbul. The demonstration comes in response to what Syrian opposition groups claim was the killing of scores of people in the shelling of an opposition neighborhood in the city of Homs on Friday.

Homs is one of the main centers of opposition to the Syrian president.  Damascus has denied its security forces attacked Homs. But such denials did little to quell the anger of protestors.

“He will burn the country to stay on the chair, So to secure their position they are pushing for this sectarian war actually,” said one protester.

Along with condemning President Assad  there was also strong condemnation of Russia.

Addressing the protestors, one of the demonstrator organizers accused Moscow of also being responsible for the ongoing bloodshed. Moscow has continued to supply arms to Damascus and has opposed international efforts in the U.N. Security Council  to take a tough stance against the ongoing crackdown by Syrian security forces.

The Turkish foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, speaking in response to the Homs attack, called on the United Nations to take a  clear and precise position on the subject of civilian losses.

Ankara has broken with its once close ally Damascus over the ongoing crackdown on dissent and is now strongly backing the Syrian opposition.

“Assad the murderer,” hundreds of  protesters chanted against the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad outside Syria’s consulate in Istanbul. The demonstration comes in response to what Syrian opposition groups claim was the killing of scores of people in the shelling of an opposition neighborhood in the city of Homs on Friday.

Homs is one of the main centers of opposition to the Syrian president.  Damascus has denied its security forces attacked Homs. But such denials did little to quell the anger of protestors.

“He will burn the country to stay on the chair, So to secure their position they are pushing for this sectarian war actually,” said one protester.

Along with condemning President Assad  there was also strong condemnation of Russia.

Addressing the protestors, one of the demonstrator organizers accused Moscow of also being responsible for the ongoing bloodshed. Moscow has continued to supply arms to Damascus and has opposed international efforts in the U.N. Security Council  to take a tough stance against the ongoing crackdown by Syrian security forces.

The Turkish foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, speaking in response to the Homs attack, called on the United Nations to take a  clear and precise position on the subject of civilian losses.

Ankara has broken with its once close ally Damascus over the ongoing crackdown on dissent and is now strongly backing the Syrian opposition.

“Assad the murderer,” hundreds of  protesters chanted against the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad outside Syria’s consulate in Istanbul. The demonstration comes in response to what Syrian opposition groups claim was the killing of scores of people in the shelling of an opposition neighborhood in the city of Homs on Friday.

Homs is one of the main centers of opposition to the Syrian president.  Damascus has denied its security forces attacked Homs. But such denials did little to quell the anger of protestors.

“He will burn the country to stay on the chair, So to secure their position they are pushing for this sectarian war actually,” said one protester.

Along with condemning President Assad  there was also strong condemnation of Russia.

Addressing the protestors, one of the demonstrator organizers accused Moscow of also being responsible for the ongoing bloodshed. Moscow has continued to supply arms to Damascus and has opposed international efforts in the U.N. Security Council  to take a tough stance against the ongoing crackdown by Syrian security forces.

The Turkish foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, speaking in response to the Homs attack, called on the United Nations to take a  clear and precise position on the subject of civilian losses.

Ankara has broken with its once close ally Damascus over the ongoing crackdown on dissent and is now strongly backing the Syrian opposition.

Across the frozen Moscow River from the Kremlin, protesters chanted Saturday: “Russia without Putin.” But, down a few bends in the river, supporters of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin waved signs reading “Enough of Revolution” and “Our President is Putin.”

Despite Arctic temperatures, Russia’s political climate heated up Saturday, one month before Russia’s presidential election.

Pro-Putin and anti-Putin forces held mass rallies.  Opposition leaders said over 100,000 people attended the anti-Putin gathering. Moscow police said 138,000 attended the pro-Putin rally.

Similar dueling rallies, with lesser crowd numbers, were held across the nation in about one dozen cities.

For the opposition, it was a test of strength, showing that, after a winter holiday break, the movement for democratic reforms is still strong.

Sergei, a 56-year-old insurance worker, said he was impressed with the opposition crowd as he surveyed red-nosed demonstrators, bundled in parkas, scarves, gloves and heavy winter boots.

He said that Russia’s leaders cannot close their eyes to the fact of a massive turnout.

Converging on the rally site by subway, the anti-Putin crowd was a diverse mix of nationalists, communists, liberals and anarchists. The common refrain was the desire for clean presidential elections on March 4, followed by a more open political system.

Standing on a pile of snow, Gregory Kataev, a filmmaker, said he was happy to see such a turnout when the temperature was minus 20 degrees.

“If I want a better Russia, if I want it to be a democratic country,  I have to do something, not only speaking in the kitchen, as we say in Russia,” he said.

Opposition politicians say that the ruling United Russia party stole 1 million votes in Moscow in the December 4 parliamentary vote. At the rally here, people with clipboards signed up volunteers to monitor the March 4 Presidential elections.

Lyuba, a 25-year-old social worker, says she is here because her vote was stolen in December.

Elena Gaber, a 20-year-old political science student, came with friends. She said the parliamentary election fraud shocked her generation, and made it politically active.

She predicted that the movement will continue after the presidential vote, building institutions that will chip away at Russia’s authoritarian system.

“I think it is very important to build civil society,” she said.

Five kilometers away, at the same time, a similar mass of demonstrators turned out to support Mr. Putin.

They waved signs reading: “Who is for Putin, is for Russia.” And “If not Putin, who?”

Many demonstrators arrived by bus. Earlier this week, Moscow media outlets and a human rights hotline received dozens of complaints from government workers saying they were being pressured, or paid, to attend the pro-Putin rally.

The rally was billed as “anti-Orange” – an attempt to link Russia’s opposition with the anti-government Orange Revolution that took place seven years ago in Ukraine.

Nikolai Storikov a Moscow publicist, pounded on the theme that foreign forces are guiding Russia’s anti-government protests.

He told the attendees to support Mr. Putin, who has no contact with “the Orange freaks” or the Americans.

But the opposition protests have already made one concrete change: state television repeatedly aired reports from both rallies. The coverage of the anti-Putin rally artfully avoided showing attacks on Mr. Putin, Russia’s political strongman for the last 12 years.

Before trooping home in the snow, the opposition protesters chanted repeatedly: “Russia Will be Free.”

Across the frozen Moscow River from the Kremlin, protesters chanted Saturday: “Russia without Putin.” But, down a few bends in the river, supporters of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin waved signs reading “Enough of Revolution” and “Our President is Putin.”

Despite Arctic temperatures, Russia’s political climate heated up Saturday, one month before Russia’s presidential election.

Pro-Putin and anti-Putin forces held mass rallies.  Opposition leaders said over 100,000 people attended the anti-Putin gathering. Moscow police said 138,000 attended the pro-Putin rally.

Similar dueling rallies, with lesser crowd numbers, were held across the nation in about one dozen cities.

For the opposition, it was a test of strength, showing that, after a winter holiday break, the movement for democratic reforms is still strong.

Sergei, a 56-year-old insurance worker, said he was impressed with the opposition crowd as he surveyed red-nosed demonstrators, bundled in parkas, scarves, gloves and heavy winter boots.

He said that Russia’s leaders cannot close their eyes to the fact of a massive turnout.

Converging on the rally site by subway, the anti-Putin crowd was a diverse mix of nationalists, communists, liberals and anarchists. The common refrain was the desire for clean presidential elections on March 4, followed by a more open political system.

Standing on a pile of snow, Gregory Kataev, a filmmaker, said he was happy to see such a turnout when the temperature was minus 20 degrees.

“If I want a better Russia, if I want it to be a democratic country,  I have to do something, not only speaking in the kitchen, as we say in Russia,” he said.

Opposition politicians say that the ruling United Russia party stole 1 million votes in Moscow in the December 4 parliamentary vote. At the rally here, people with clipboards signed up volunteers to monitor the March 4 Presidential elections.

Lyuba, a 25-year-old social worker, says she is here because her vote was stolen in December.

Elena Gaber, a 20-year-old political science student, came with friends. She said the parliamentary election fraud shocked her generation, and made it politically active.

She predicted that the movement will continue after the presidential vote, building institutions that will chip away at Russia’s authoritarian system.

“I think it is very important to build civil society,” she said.

Five kilometers away, at the same time, a similar mass of demonstrators turned out to support Mr. Putin.

They waved signs reading: “Who is for Putin, is for Russia.” And “If not Putin, who?”

Many demonstrators arrived by bus. Earlier this week, Moscow media outlets and a human rights hotline received dozens of complaints from government workers saying they were being pressured, or paid, to attend the pro-Putin rally.

The rally was billed as “anti-Orange” – an attempt to link Russia’s opposition with the anti-government Orange Revolution that took place seven years ago in Ukraine.

Nikolai Storikov a Moscow publicist, pounded on the theme that foreign forces are guiding Russia’s anti-government protests.

He told the attendees to support Mr. Putin, who has no contact with “the Orange freaks” or the Americans.

But the opposition protests have already made one concrete change: state television repeatedly aired reports from both rallies. The coverage of the anti-Putin rally artfully avoided showing attacks on Mr. Putin, Russia’s political strongman for the last 12 years.

Before trooping home in the snow, the opposition protesters chanted repeatedly: “Russia Will be Free.”

The Syrian crisis has been a divisive force in the 15-nation Security Council for months. In October, Russia and China both vetoed a resolution condemning the violence.

Saturday’s vote came after weeks and days of tense negotiations and after a night of spiraling violence in Syria. Last minute huddles and phone calls inside the council chamber could not prevent the measure’s failure, despite the 13 votes in favor.

In the end it came down to a few phrases that Russia wanted changed or added, but that the Arab and Western sponsors of the text refused to alter or insert, saying they had made enough concessions already.

Ambassador Susan Rice said the United States was “disgusted” that Russia and China had once again blocked council action on Syria, particularly as the draft resolution had no references to sanctions, an arms embargo or military intervention. She also chided Russia for continuing to sell weapons to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

“For months this Council has been held hostage by a couple of members.  These members stand behind empty arguments and individual interests while delaying and seeking to strip bare any text that would pressure Assad to change his actions.  This intransigence is even more shameful when you consider that at least one of these members continues to deliver weapons to Assad,” she said.

The British ambassador, Mark Lyall Grant, said he was “appalled” at the double veto, saying there was nothing in the text that should have triggered it. “The reality is that Russia and China have today taken a choice: to turn their backs on the Arab world and to support tyranny rather than the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.  They have failed in their responsibility as permanent members of the Security Council,” he said.

He told reporters later that he was particularly surprised by China’s vote against the resolution, as they had not expressed any particular concerns about the text during negotiations.

France’s  Ambassador, Gérard Araud, was equally indignant, criticizing Russia and China for obstructing council action and saying history would judge harshly those who did not support the Arab League plan and aligned themselves with a regime that massacred its own people.

But Russia’s Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters that consensus was possible, Moscow just wanted a few more days to negotiate and they were pushed to use their veto because other council members insisted on holding the vote Saturday without giving their proposals due consideration. “We were trying to suggest that we continue our discussions in order to reach consensus, so we were prepared for an extra mile, it was our colleagues who did not accept it,” he said.

Churkin acknowledged that “tragic events” are happening in Syria, but said the Security Council is not the only “diplomatic tool on this planet” and he noted that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the foreign intelligence chief are going to Damascus on Tuesday to meet with President Assad.

Syria’s envoy, Bashar al-Ja’afari, continued to blame the violence in his country on armed groups and terrorist gangs that he said are supported by foreign sources and media campaigns in hostile countries.

In a statement, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s spokesman said the U.N. chief “deeply regretted” the failure of the council to act. He said it undermines the role of the United Nations and the international community in this period when the Syrian authorities must hear a unified voice calling for an immediate end to its violence against the Syrian people.

Meanwhile, the death toll continued to mount in the Syrian town of Homs, where activists say the military bombarded the city overnight, killing more than 200 people in one of the bloodiest days since the crackdown began last March.

The Syrian crisis has been a divisive force in the 15-nation Security Council for months. In October, Russia and China both vetoed a resolution condemning the violence.

Saturday’s vote came after weeks and days of tense negotiations and after a night of spiraling violence in Syria. Last minute huddles and phone calls inside the council chamber could not prevent the measure’s failure, despite the 13 votes in favor.

In the end it came down to a few phrases that Russia wanted changed or added, but that the Arab and Western sponsors of the text refused to alter or insert, saying they had made enough concessions already.

Ambassador Susan Rice said the United States was “disgusted” that Russia and China had once again blocked council action on Syria, particularly as the draft resolution had no references to sanctions, an arms embargo or military intervention. She also chided Russia for continuing to sell weapons to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

“For months this Council has been held hostage by a couple of members.  These members stand behind empty arguments and individual interests while delaying and seeking to strip bare any text that would pressure Assad to change his actions.  This intransigence is even more shameful when you consider that at least one of these members continues to deliver weapons to Assad,” she said.

The British ambassador, Mark Lyall Grant, said he was “appalled” at the double veto, saying there was nothing in the text that should have triggered it. “The reality is that Russia and China have today taken a choice: to turn their backs on the Arab world and to support tyranny rather than the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.  They have failed in their responsibility as permanent members of the Security Council,” he said.

He told reporters later that he was particularly surprised by China’s vote against the resolution, as they had not expressed any particular concerns about the text during negotiations.

France’s  Ambassador, Gérard Araud, was equally indignant, criticizing Russia and China for obstructing council action and saying history would judge harshly those who did not support the Arab League plan and aligned themselves with a regime that massacred its own people.

But Russia’s Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters that consensus was possible, Moscow just wanted a few more days to negotiate and they were pushed to use their veto because other council members insisted on holding the vote Saturday without giving their proposals due consideration. “We were trying to suggest that we continue our discussions in order to reach consensus, so we were prepared for an extra mile, it was our colleagues who did not accept it,” he said.

Churkin acknowledged that “tragic events” are happening in Syria, but said the Security Council is not the only “diplomatic tool on this planet” and he noted that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the foreign intelligence chief are going to Damascus on Tuesday to meet with President Assad.

Syria’s envoy, Bashar al-Ja’afari, continued to blame the violence in his country on armed groups and terrorist gangs that he said are supported by foreign sources and media campaigns in hostile countries.

In a statement, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s spokesman said the U.N. chief “deeply regretted” the failure of the council to act. He said it undermines the role of the United Nations and the international community in this period when the Syrian authorities must hear a unified voice calling for an immediate end to its violence against the Syrian people.

Meanwhile, the death toll continued to mount in the Syrian town of Homs, where activists say the military bombarded the city overnight, killing more than 200 people in one of the bloodiest days since the crackdown began last March.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Saturday that 3,021 civilians were killed in 2011, an 8 percent increase over the previous year, and the fifth year in a row that the death toll has risen.

The report says insurgents were responsible for 77 percent of the Afghan civilian deaths.  NATO-led and Afghan government forces caused 410 civilian deaths, a decrease of 4 percent from 2010. A further 279 civilian deaths could not be attributed to either the militants or the government forces.

The report said bombs, including roadside mines detonated by people stepping on them or vehicles driving over them, were the “single, largest killer of Afghan children, women and men” in 2011, taking the lives of about one-third of the civilians killed.  The death toll from suicide attacks rose dramatically in 2011 to 450, an increase of 80 percent over 2010.

U.N. special representative Jan Kubis said “Afghan children, women and men continue to be killed in this war in ever-increasing numbers.”

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Saturday that 3,021 civilians were killed in 2011, an 8 percent increase over the previous year, and the fifth year in a row that the death toll has risen.

The report says insurgents were responsible for 77 percent of the Afghan civilian deaths.  NATO-led and Afghan government forces caused 410 civilian deaths, a decrease of 4 percent from 2010. A further 279 civilian deaths could not be attributed to either the militants or the government forces.

The report said bombs, including roadside mines detonated by people stepping on them or vehicles driving over them, were the “single, largest killer of Afghan children, women and men” in 2011, taking the lives of about one-third of the civilians killed.  The death toll from suicide attacks rose dramatically in 2011 to 450, an increase of 80 percent over 2010.

U.N. special representative Jan Kubis said “Afghan children, women and men continue to be killed in this war in ever-increasing numbers.”

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Saturday that 3,021 civilians were killed in 2011, an 8 percent increase over the previous year, and the fifth year in a row that the death toll has risen.

The report says insurgents were responsible for 77 percent of the Afghan civilian deaths.  NATO-led and Afghan government forces caused 410 civilian deaths, a decrease of 4 percent from 2010. A further 279 civilian deaths could not be attributed to either the militants or the government forces.

The report said bombs, including roadside mines detonated by people stepping on them or vehicles driving over them, were the “single, largest killer of Afghan children, women and men” in 2011, taking the lives of about one-third of the civilians killed.  The death toll from suicide attacks rose dramatically in 2011 to 450, an increase of 80 percent over 2010.

U.N. special representative Jan Kubis said “Afghan children, women and men continue to be killed in this war in ever-increasing numbers.”

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Saturday that 3,021 civilians were killed in 2011, an 8 percent increase over the previous year, and the fifth year in a row that the death toll has risen.

The report says insurgents were responsible for 77 percent of the Afghan civilian deaths.  NATO-led and Afghan government forces caused 410 civilian deaths, a decrease of 4 percent from 2010. A further 279 civilian deaths could not be attributed to either the militants or the government forces.

The report said bombs, including roadside mines detonated by people stepping on them or vehicles driving over them, were the “single, largest killer of Afghan children, women and men” in 2011, taking the lives of about one-third of the civilians killed.  The death toll from suicide attacks rose dramatically in 2011 to 450, an increase of 80 percent over 2010.

U.N. special representative Jan Kubis said “Afghan children, women and men continue to be killed in this war in ever-increasing numbers.”

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Saturday that 3,021 civilians were killed in 2011, an 8 percent increase over the previous year, and the fifth year in a row that the death toll has risen.

The report says insurgents were responsible for 77 percent of the Afghan civilian deaths.  NATO-led and Afghan government forces caused 410 civilian deaths, a decrease of 4 percent from 2010. A further 279 civilian deaths could not be attributed to either the militants or the government forces.

The report said bombs, including roadside mines detonated by people stepping on them or vehicles driving over them, were the “single, largest killer of Afghan children, women and men” in 2011, taking the lives of about one-third of the civilians killed.  The death toll from suicide attacks rose dramatically in 2011 to 450, an increase of 80 percent over 2010.

U.N. special representative Jan Kubis said “Afghan children, women and men continue to be killed in this war in ever-increasing numbers.”

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Saturday that 3,021 civilians were killed in 2011, an 8 percent increase over the previous year, and the fifth year in a row that the death toll has risen.

The report says insurgents were responsible for 77 percent of the Afghan civilian deaths.  NATO-led and Afghan government forces caused 410 civilian deaths, a decrease of 4 percent from 2010. A further 279 civilian deaths could not be attributed to either the militants or the government forces.

The report said bombs, including roadside mines detonated by people stepping on them or vehicles driving over them, were the “single, largest killer of Afghan children, women and men” in 2011, taking the lives of about one-third of the civilians killed.  The death toll from suicide attacks rose dramatically in 2011 to 450, an increase of 80 percent over 2010.

U.N. special representative Jan Kubis said “Afghan children, women and men continue to be killed in this war in ever-increasing numbers.”

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Saturday that 3,021 civilians were killed in 2011, an 8 percent increase over the previous year, and the fifth year in a row that the death toll has risen.

The report says insurgents were responsible for 77 percent of the Afghan civilian deaths.  NATO-led and Afghan government forces caused 410 civilian deaths, a decrease of 4 percent from 2010. A further 279 civilian deaths could not be attributed to either the militants or the government forces.

The report said bombs, including roadside mines detonated by people stepping on them or vehicles driving over them, were the “single, largest killer of Afghan children, women and men” in 2011, taking the lives of about one-third of the civilians killed.  The death toll from suicide attacks rose dramatically in 2011 to 450, an increase of 80 percent over 2010.

U.N. special representative Jan Kubis said “Afghan children, women and men continue to be killed in this war in ever-increasing numbers.”

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Saturday that 3,021 civilians were killed in 2011, an 8 percent increase over the previous year, and the fifth year in a row that the death toll has risen.

The report says insurgents were responsible for 77 percent of the Afghan civilian deaths.  NATO-led and Afghan government forces caused 410 civilian deaths, a decrease of 4 percent from 2010. A further 279 civilian deaths could not be attributed to either the militants or the government forces.

The report said bombs, including roadside mines detonated by people stepping on them or vehicles driving over them, were the “single, largest killer of Afghan children, women and men” in 2011, taking the lives of about one-third of the civilians killed.  The death toll from suicide attacks rose dramatically in 2011 to 450, an increase of 80 percent over 2010.

U.N. special representative Jan Kubis said “Afghan children, women and men continue to be killed in this war in ever-increasing numbers.”

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Saturday that 3,021 civilians were killed in 2011, an 8 percent increase over the previous year, and the fifth year in a row that the death toll has risen.

The report says insurgents were responsible for 77 percent of the Afghan civilian deaths.  NATO-led and Afghan government forces caused 410 civilian deaths, a decrease of 4 percent from 2010. A further 279 civilian deaths could not be attributed to either the militants or the government forces.

The report said bombs, including roadside mines detonated by people stepping on them or vehicles driving over them, were the “single, largest killer of Afghan children, women and men” in 2011, taking the lives of about one-third of the civilians killed.  The death toll from suicide attacks rose dramatically in 2011 to 450, an increase of 80 percent over 2010.

U.N. special representative Jan Kubis said “Afghan children, women and men continue to be killed in this war in ever-increasing numbers.”

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Saturday that 3,021 civilians were killed in 2011, an 8 percent increase over the previous year, and the fifth year in a row that the death toll has risen.

The report says insurgents were responsible for 77 percent of the Afghan civilian deaths.  NATO-led and Afghan government forces caused 410 civilian deaths, a decrease of 4 percent from 2010. A further 279 civilian deaths could not be attributed to either the militants or the government forces.

The report said bombs, including roadside mines detonated by people stepping on them or vehicles driving over them, were the “single, largest killer of Afghan children, women and men” in 2011, taking the lives of about one-third of the civilians killed.  The death toll from suicide attacks rose dramatically in 2011 to 450, an increase of 80 percent over 2010.

U.N. special representative Jan Kubis said “Afghan children, women and men continue to be killed in this war in ever-increasing numbers.”

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Saturday that 3,021 civilians were killed in 2011, an 8 percent increase over the previous year, and the fifth year in a row that the death toll has risen.

The report says insurgents were responsible for 77 percent of the Afghan civilian deaths.  NATO-led and Afghan government forces caused 410 civilian deaths, a decrease of 4 percent from 2010. A further 279 civilian deaths could not be attributed to either the militants or the government forces.

The report said bombs, including roadside mines detonated by people stepping on them or vehicles driving over them, were the “single, largest killer of Afghan children, women and men” in 2011, taking the lives of about one-third of the civilians killed.  The death toll from suicide attacks rose dramatically in 2011 to 450, an increase of 80 percent over 2010.

U.N. special representative Jan Kubis said “Afghan children, women and men continue to be killed in this war in ever-increasing numbers.”

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Saturday that 3,021 civilians were killed in 2011, an 8 percent increase over the previous year, and the fifth year in a row that the death toll has risen.

The report says insurgents were responsible for 77 percent of the Afghan civilian deaths.  NATO-led and Afghan government forces caused 410 civilian deaths, a decrease of 4 percent from 2010. A further 279 civilian deaths could not be attributed to either the militants or the government forces.

The report said bombs, including roadside mines detonated by people stepping on them or vehicles driving over them, were the “single, largest killer of Afghan children, women and men” in 2011, taking the lives of about one-third of the civilians killed.  The death toll from suicide attacks rose dramatically in 2011 to 450, an increase of 80 percent over 2010.

U.N. special representative Jan Kubis said “Afghan children, women and men continue to be killed in this war in ever-increasing numbers.”

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.