(Recasts with NATO spokesman, background)

By Mark John

BRUSSELS, May 14 (Reuters) - Germany called on Monday for a review of the way Western forces operate in Afghanistan after a spate of civilian casualties that threatens Afghan public support for the battle against Taliban insurgents.

"We have to make sure in future that operations do not take place in this way. We don't want the local population against us," German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung told reporters in Brussels, adding he had spoken to NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on the matter.

Asked whether Western forces should re-examine the battle guidelines used by troops in the war against insurgents, he said: "This is an important point, there should be discussions."

The U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan confirmed last week there had been civilian casualties during fighting with Taliban guerrillas in southern Afghanistan, after witnesses said an air strike killed more than 40 villagers there earlier this month.

Even before the latest casualties, scores of civilians have been killed by Western forces recently and European nations in particular are concerned the casualties could erode public support for the mission not only in Afghanistan.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has urged foreign troops to avoid such casualties while hunting militants, to stop searching people's houses, and to coordinate attacks with his government.

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force has more than 30,000 troops in Afghanistan operating alongside a smaller U.S.-led coalition. A key part of their strategy is to convince Afghans to back them against the Taliban.

A spokesman for de Hoop Scheffer confirmed that he and Jung, whose country has troops in the relatively calm north of the country, had spoken about how to avoid civilian deaths.

"Yes, they did discuss civilian casualties and the importance of taking every possible measure to minimise them," spokesman James Appathurai said.

He said the discussion focused on how to improve coordination between ISAF, the U.S.-led coalition and Afghan forces with often the best knowledge of the local terrain.

NATO officials say civilian casualties have often occurred when Western forces find themselves outnumbered and have to call in air support to create an escape route. There have also been deaths because Western troops are unaware of nomads or other civilians in a battle zone.

"The Afghan forces have better ground knowledge than we do, so better coordination could help diminish that type of event," said one.

"I have not heard any ally question the actual rules of engagement in Afghanistan," he said, using the term for the rules governing how troops operate in battle.

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