Danish soldier killed in Afghan sniper attack

19/09/09 19:03 CET

world news

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A Danish soldier has been killed and another wounded in a sniper attack in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.

The two were on patrol when they came under fire in a region where the Taliban insurgency is at its strongest. They were evacuated by helicopter but one was announced dead on arrival at hospital. The second soldier’s wounds are not thought to be life-threatening. The death brings to 26 the number of Danish soldiers killed in Afghanistan — in proportional terms, Denmark’s 700 strong contingent has suffered the highest number of casualties of any of the allied nations. Meanwhile the coffins of the six Italian soldiers killed in an attack on Thursday are on their way back to Italy. The suicide blast in Kabul also killed 10 Afghan civilians. Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has called for a “transition strategy” to transfer security duties to Afghan forces and allow foreign troops to withdraw progressively.More about: Afghanistan, Military, Victims

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