Three NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan

The Daily Times, Pakistan, Monday, March 8, 2010

KABUL:

Three NATO soldiers were killed in Afghanistan on Sunday in separate incidents, the international force said, bringing the number of foreign troops who have died in the war this year to 117.

One soldier was killed by gunfire and another by an improvised bomb in the south of the country, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force said in a statement.

The third soldier was killed by gunfire in the east. NATO did not give the precise locations of the killings, or the nationalities of the dead. Southern Afghanistan has seen the worst violence in the Taliban-led insurgency.

Last year was the deadliest yet for foreign troops in Afghanistan, with 519 fatalities reported in the conflict.

There are about 121,000 US and NATO troops in Afghanistan, with numbers due to rise to 150,000 by the end of this year. afp

Twin blasts kill 12 in Afghanistan, as Gates arrives

Press TV, Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:37:56 GMT

At least 12 people, including 10 civilians, have been killed in two bomb explosions in northwestern Afghanistan, according to police.

The first explosion hit a civilian vehicle in Badghis province on Sunday, killing 10 passengers.

Minutes later, the second blast targeted a police car and killed two police officers.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrived in the war-torn country on an unannounced visit on Monday to visit Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

The Pentagon chief clalimed he wanted to get an update on a US-led operation in the southern Afghan city of Marjah.

Around 15,000 US-led forces launched the offensive on February 13 to battle militancy in the region.

The primary victims of the offensive have been civilians residing in the areas of conflict. The residents have been forced to flee their homes in pursuit of basic necessities, despite roadside bombs planted by militants.

AGB/TG/MB