Afghan civilian deaths up in 2013 as war intensifies - UN

An Afghan policeman stands guard on the roof of a shop damaged in a suicide attack in Kabul January 26, 2014. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

KABUL (Reuters) - War took an increasing toll on Afghanistan's civilians in 2013 as fighting intensified between the government and insurgents, the United Nations said in a report on Saturday, with total casualties rising 14 percent.

The gradual withdrawal of foreign troops has left Afghan government forces more vulnerable to attack by insurgents, and the resulting battles helped account for last year's rise in casualties, according to the report.