Jon Stephenson

The number of civilians killed or wounded in Afghanistan dropped 15 percent in the first six months of the year. But U.N. officials cautioned that the decrease ought not be seen as a sign that Afghanistan is becoming less violent.

President Obama apologized for the accidental burning of Qurans by U.S. forces in Afghanistan as anti-American demonstrations raged for a third consecutive day, leaving two NATO troops and at least five Afghans dead.