Seven NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan in 48 hours

KABUL, March 2, 2010 (AFP) - NATO announced Tuesday the death of a foreign soldier in southern Afghanistan, a day after six NATO troops were killed in one of the worst days for the alliance this year.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said a soldier was killed during a gun attack on Tuesday, but in accordance with policy did not disclose the soldier's nationality.

The latest death brings to 108 the number of foreign soldiers to have died in the Afghan war so far this year, according to an AFP tally.

Monday's toll of six NATO soldiers fell just short of the seven soldiers that independent website icasulties.org reported killed on January 11, making it one of the worst days of the year for international forces in Afghanistan.

One of the six soldiers was British, but nationalities of the others have not been disclosed.

Foreign troop deaths this year have shot well above the level for the first two months of 2009. Last year was the deadliest since the 2001 US-led invasion brought down the Taliban regime, with 519 foreign troop deaths.

US Marines are currently leading a force of 15,000 NATO and Afghan troops in the southern province of Helmand against Taliban strongholds, with plans to expand operations to Kandahar in a campaign lasting 12 to 18 months.



(c) 2010 AFP