The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in its 2008 annual report released here Tuesday said that 2,118 civilians had been killed last year in Afghanistan.

"In 2008, UNAMA recorded a total of 2,118 civilian casualties. The growing death toll represents an increase of almost 40 percent on 1,523 civilian deaths recorded in 2007," the reported said.

It also added that the armed opposition outfits were responsible for 1,160 civilian deaths and this represents 65 percent increase over 2007 figure.

Majority of the victims, according to the report, died in suicide attacks and roadside bombings carried out by insurgents.

"The vast majority or 85 percent of those killed by anti- government elements died as a result of suicide attacks and improvised explosive devices," it said.

Air strikes carried out by the U.S. military and the NATO-led peacekeeping forces, according to the report were responsible for 828 civilian deaths in 2008.

It moreover stressed that 38 aid workers from the non- government organizations were killed in 2008, doubling the number of those killed in 2007.

Meantime, the world body expressed concerns over the issue and called on warring sides to ensure the safety of non-combatants.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2009)