"In the first four months of the year there were in the range of 320 to 380 civilians killed," said Richard Bennett, human rights chief at the UN mission here.

The figures included those killed by international troops and by Taliban attacks, including suicide bombings.

Hundreds more were wounded, he told a news conference in Kabul.

"In addition to deaths and injuries, civilians are affected in many other ways: they are forced to become IDPs (internally displaced persons) and their properties have been destroyed," Bennett added.