Brussels  - NATO is successfully avoiding killing civilians in its war against the Taliban, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen insisted Friday.

But he admitted that civilian lives had probably been lost in the bombing of two tankers, ordered by the German army , in which at least 56 people died.

"It seems as if civilian lives were lost," he said. "I deeply regret that and we have initiated a thorough investigation of what has actually happened."

The new strategy of avoiding civilian casualties had "already seen positive results", he said. The number of casualties had fallen by 90 per cent since June. "It is really a progress and we will continue to focus on that."

"We do all we can to minimize the number of civilian casualties, said Rasmussen in an internet video blog. "This is really a focal point for us."

NATO's strategy was in "sharp contrast" to that of the Taliban. "They are killing civilians all over Afghanistan in the endeavour to destabilize the situation in the country," he said. "Innocent lives doesn't matter for the Taliban. But it does for us." (dpa)