KANDAHAR, Afghanistan: The number of US troops killed in Afghanistan has reached 1,000, an independent website said yesterday, and another deadly bombing in the volatile south highlighted the struggle to stabilize the country.

Civilian and military casualties hit record highs last year as violence reached its worst levels since the Taliban were ousted in late 2001, with foreign forces launching two big offensives in the past eight months to stem a growing insurgency.

A website which tracks casualties, www.