The State Department's annual report on human rights around the world blames the continuing problems on weak central institutions and an insurgency that includes remnants of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

The report says the insurgents were responsible for increased attacks last year on government officials, security forces, and civilians, as well as on non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, and other aid groups.

The State Department said suicide bombings also increased sharply during 2006.

The government of President Hamid Karzai also shared the blame for what the report called cases of arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, torture, and poor prison conditions.