ICRC deplores Afghan civilian casualties

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 10 (UPI) -- Deploring the growing violence in Afghanistan, the Red Cross says at least 250 civilians have died or been injured since last Friday in various attacks.

"Civilians continue to be killed and wounded in the ongoing hostilities. We call on all parties to the conflict, in the conduct of their military operations, to distinguish at all times between civilians and fighters and to take constant care to spare civilians," said Franz Rauchenstein, the agency's head in Afghanistan.

In the latest such incident, an attack Monday near the Indian Embassy in Kabul killed 41 people.

In an appeal, the International Committee of the Red Cross said whatever the means and methods of warfare chosen by those involved in the conflict, "they must take all necessary precautions to verify that targets are indeed military objectives and that attacks will not cause excessive civilian casualties and damage."

Separately, the BBC quoted NATO figures that more than 900 people, including civilians, have died in Afghanistan since the start of this year.

The report quoted the Taliban as saying it wasn't involved in the Indian Embassy attack.