News Brief – August 27, 2006
Another British soldier was killed early Sunday in Afghanistan’s troubled Helmand province, the sixth NATO soldier to be killed in the province since it took over this month.
Announcing the death in London, a spokeswoman said: "The Ministry of Defence can confirm the death of a British soldier during contact with insurgent forces in northern Helmand."
The province of jagged, mountains, deserts and narrow, fertile valleys has long been a Taliban stronghold.
The spokeswoman said small arms and heavy machine guns were used to repel the early morning attack but gave no indication as to the extent of Taliban casualties.
Afghanistan is going through the bloodiest phase of violence since U.S. and Afghan opposition troops overthrew the Taliban in 2001.
In another incident six Afghan government troops and a NATO soldier were wounded in a mortar attack on their base in southern Kandahar province, NATO said.
In neighbouring Zabul province, heavy fighting between Taliban and Afghan and foreign forces erupted on the main highway to the capital, Kabul, witnesses said.
There is no word yet on casualties.
Last updated 08/09/2006
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