U.S. Soldier Killed on Patrol in Kabul
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KABUL, Afghanistan – Terrorists attacked American troops patrolling in southeastern Afghanistan yesterday, killing one American soldier and wounding two with gunfire and rockets, the military said.
In other violence yesterday, Afghan soldiers clashed with police in the southern Zabul province and Afghan troops battled militiamen in the city of Kandahar, killing two, according to local officials.
The American patrol came under fire near Orgun, a town in Paktika province where American troops man a base close to the Pakistani border, spokesman Major Mark McCann said.
The two wounded soldiers were rushed to a medical facility at another base in neighboring Khost province, where they were in stable condition, Major McCann said. “The patrol received small-arms fire and RPG fire,” Major McCann said. “Unfortunately, one U.S. soldier was killed and two wounded.” None of the soldiers was identified.
In Zabul province, Afghan soldiers exchanged fire with police, leaving several casualties and prompting American forces to step in to restore order, police and witnesses said.
The 90-minute gun battle started after Afghan National Army troops disarmed police at a checkpoint and a bazaar in Qalat, the provincial capital, said deputy police chief Jailani Khan.
He insisted the army had no authority to disarm the police. The fighting subsided after American forces arrived and took over security. He said there were some casualties, but he didn’t know how many. A shopkeeper who was reached by telephone from Kandahar said on condition of anonymity that he saw at least three bodies.
Separately, terrorists threatening to kill three foreign hostages said yesterday they were ready to negotiate with a U.N. envoy, but they warned that any rescue attempt would end in bloodshed and stuck to their demands that the world body withdraw from Afghanistan and that America release its prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
There was conflicting information on the group’s deadline for killing the captives. In separate telephone conversations yesterday, the group’s leader set a Wednesday deadline, while a spokesman said it was Friday.
On Sunday, U.N. election workers Annetta Flanigan of Northern Ireland, diplomat Angelito Nayan of the Philippines, and Shqipe Habibi of Kosovo appeared in an Iraq-style video, pleading for their freedom.