May deadliest month for Afghans, U.N. says

KABUL, Afghanistan, June 13 (UPI) -- Those involved in the conflict in Afghanistan must do more to protect civilians, the U.N. mission said after describing May as the deadliest month since 2007.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said opposition forces were responsible for 82 percent -- 301 -- civilian deaths in May. Forces backing the government, were responsible for 45 deaths, or 12 percent of the total reported for May. UNAMI didn't provide information for the remaining 6 percent.

Georgette Gagnon, the human rights director for UNAMI, said in a statement that May was the deadliest month for civilians since UNAMI started keeping records in 2007.

"Parties to the conflict must increase their efforts to protect civilians now," she said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said NATO forces wouldn't be allowed to target civilian homes after a May 28 airstrike left at least nine people dead in Helmand province. The civilian deaths were the third such reported incident in Afghanistan in May.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said during a news conference in Kabul last week alongside the Afghan president that he was "keenly aware" of the impact that NATO strikes have on the Afghan people.

Gates blamed the Taliban for much of the violence. UNAMI said most of the civilian deaths came in areas along the border with Pakistan.