Afghanistan ? The United Nations’ chief in Afghanistan called Wednesday for international military forces to revise their agreement with the Afghan government to include practices that will better safeguard civilians.

“For the sustainability of our military presence, for the continued strong support of the Afghan people, it should be done as quickly as possible,” Kai Eide told The Associated Press after making the appeal at a news conference in the capital.

The United Nations has repeatedly criticized international forces for not doing enough to protect Afghan civilians during airstrikes, house searches and when detaining suspects. The censure reflects growing uneasiness among the country’s citizens and politicians that an increase in U.S. troops next year could bring more civilian deaths.

The U.N. said in September that 577 Afghan civilians had been killed this year by U.S., NATO and Afghan troops, a 21 percent jump from 2007.

However, the U.N. tally said Taliban fighters and other insurgents had killed even more civilians: at least 800 this year.