Foreign forces' worst Afghan toll

Military statements throughout June show that at least 45 foreign troops died as a result of war or accidents.

They were serving either with the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) or the US-led coalition.

'Resurgent militia'

More than 40% of the 122 foreign soldiers who have died in Afghanistan during 2008 were killed in June, according to official figures collated by the independent website icasualties.org.

Most were killed by roadside bombs hitting their convoys or patrols.

Isaf spokesman Gen Carlos Branco said that the high casualty figures should be seen in the context of a higher number of international troops fighting the Taleban.

The coalition says that it killing large numbers of insurgents

"Isaf has much more soldiers now than in the past and is now going to places where it was not going before," Gen Branco told the AFP news agency.

The icasualties website says that 31 soldiers - including 29 Americans - were killed in Iraq in June although there are twice as many troops there as in Afghanistan.

Correspondents say that the Afghan casualty figures reflect a series of headline-grabbing insurgent attacks by the Taleban which underscores their growing strength.