SIR - I'm disappointed at David Rhodes's comments (T&A, September 20) about insurgents murdering more civilians than coalition forces.

I see he's in the I see and hear what I want to and disregard the rest' camp. Let me point out the US-led coalition of the invasion in Iraq since March 2003 has resulted in the death of 250,000 civilians - and this figure is increasing in the worsening situation due to this illegal occupation.

Mr Rhodes's opinion is that "the vast majority of citizens in both Iraq and Afghanistan don't support these so-called resistance fighters". How does he make this assumption?

I can confirm that Iraqi resistance against the US occupation is growing, as is its support among ordinary Iraqis, borne out by a USA Today/Gallup poll in March and not based on my personal opinion.

In addition, poverty in Afghanistan is fuelling support for the Taliban against NATO-led troops in the country because of broken pledges made during the invasion.

The ordinary people in both countries support this resistance solely for the simple reason that they want the coalition troops to get out and take the puppet-installed governments with them.

Saqib Ali Mirza, Leylands Lane, Heaton, Bradford