Nato troops killed in Afghanistan

04/03/2007| IslamWeb

Two Nato soldiers have been killed in fighting in southern Afghanistan, Nato has said.

No information was given on the nationality of the International Security Assistance Force troops or where the fighting had taken place.

Most of the troops in southern Afghanistan are British or Canadian.

Separately, eight civilians were killed when foreign troops opened fire after a suicide bomb attack on a road from Jalalabad to Pakistan, police said.

Noor Agha Zwak, a provincial government spokesman, said: "A suicide bomber attacked a convoy of foreign troops and subsequently the soldiers in the convoy fired in self defence resulting to the killing and wounding of some civilians."

Nato has not yet commented on the incident.

Spring offensive

Nato fears that Taleban violence will escalate in several areas of Afghanistan as the winter snows thaw, with many militants believed to be crossing from Pakistan.

Twenty foreign soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan so far this year.

Nato commanders have said they need more soldiers to tackle the expected spring offensive.

The British have a large presence in Helmand province and the Canadians a big contingent in neighbouring Kandahar.

Last Tuesday at least nine people were killed in a suicide bombing at the main US base in Afghanistan, Bagram near Kabul, during a visit by US Vice-President Dick Cheney.

PHOTO CAPTION

A soldier belonging to NATO forces in Afghanistan. (AFP)