And the Taliban laid down its guns on Sunday

Jason Straziuso, Associated Press

KABUL - The guns fell silent across much of Afghanistan for International Peace Day on Sunday.The UN said tens of thousands of U.S., NATO and Afghan soldiers were observing peace day by refraining from offensive operations.

For the most part, the Taliban insurgents were also standing down to mark the day.

Government officials in most places reported no violence, and several credited Peace Day efforts. However, insurgents are reported to have attacked a security company guarding a road construction crew in southern Ghazni province, killing two guards.

Still, the push for peace was largely successful given that 2008 has been the most violent year in Afghanistan since the 2001 U.S. invasion that ousted the Taliban's fundamentalist Islamic government.

When asked if he had any reports of violence, U.S. coalition spokesman Sgt. 1st Class Joel Peavey replied: "Not at all."

"It's crazy, but apparently the Taliban sent out an email saying they were going to abide by it if we were, and we definitely are," he said.

"It's a great day to show Afghans exactly what peace is like and how their everyday life would be if they just booted out the bad guys."

Taliban attacks have grown larger and more deadly this year. At least 120 U.S. soldiers and 104 troops from other NATO countries have died already in 2008, both record numbers.

Overall, more than 4,500 people - mostly militants - have died in insurgency-related attacks this year, according to western military sources. Civilian deaths have also soared, with the insurgents being responsible for more than half of them, according to UN figures.

Sunday was the 26th anniversary of the International Day of Peace, a UN-backed push for a day of non-violence and global ceasefire. The UN mission in Afghanistan in particular heavily promotes the day.

The UN's special representative in the country, Kai Eidi, described the response as "remarkable" and urged all sides in the Afghan conflict to make peace a common goal.

NATO's top general in Afghanistan ordered all international troops to halt offensive operations from midnight Saturday to midnight Sunday in honour of the day. That order followed an announcement from Afghan President Hamid Karzai that Afghan troops would observe Peace Day.

A Taliban spokesman said its fighters would also lay down their guns Sunday.

Afghans around the country celebrated the day with sporting events, gatherings and marches. The Ministry of Public Health launched a polio vaccination campaign in which some 12,000 volunteers would vaccinate up to 1.8 million children from Sunday through Tuesday, the UN said.

The volunteers also planned to vaccinate in the violence-plagued south, where medical workers are routinely attacked. Afghanistan is one of only 14 countries in the world where polio exists, according to the World Health Organization.

In the northern city of Kunduz, a street that has seen three suicide bombs was re-dedicated as "Peace Avenue" during a Peace Day ceremony.

In the central highland town of Bamiyan, Afghanistan's first Olympic medal winner led a march of Afghan orphans. Rohullah Nikpai won a bronze at the Beijing Olympics in taekwondo in August.