Nearly 700 civilians die in 2008 Afghan violence
Updated
The United Nation's Relief Coordinator says nearly 700 Afghan civilians have lost their lives in crossfire between insurgents and foreign troops this year.
Sir John Holmes says some 255 people were killed during operations by Afghan, NATO- and US-led forces against militants .
He says 422 others lost their lives in attacks by rebels targeting government and military forces.
He says most of the casualties were in the country's south where the Taliban have been active.
The figures show a sharp rise in civilian deaths compared with 430 in the same period last year.
