DHAKA: The number of civilians killed and wounded in Afghanistan’s war rose 14 percent last year, the United Nations said on Saturday, with deaths almost reaching the record of 2011.

Civilians killed or wounded in the crossfire of fighting between government and Taliban-led insurgent forces was a marked new trend in 2013, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in its annual report.

UNAMA put this down to the reduction of ground and air operations by the United States-led Nato force as it withdraws after more than a decade of war.

Afghan forces have been taking an increasing role in the fight against the Taliban as the coalition withdraws by the end of 2014, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1407 HRS, FEB 08, 2014