Helsinki/Oslo - A Finnish soldier was killed and four
Norwegian soldiers were wounded Wednesday while on patrol in
Afghanistan, defence officials in the Nordic countries said,
confirming earlier reports from Kabul.
The soldiers were hit by a roadside explosion while patrolling on
foot near Maymana, Finnish defence spokesman Matti Vihurila told
Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
According to Vihurila the soldier was transported to a field
hospital in where he later died. His name and rank were not been
released pending notification of his family.
Two of the Norwegian soldiers sustained minor injuries, while two
where more seriously injured, likely due to shrapnel and were taken
to a field hospital in Mazar-e-Sharif, Major Tore Bjorheim of the
Norwegian defence forces told dpa.
Norway is currently in charge of one of the reconstruction teams
in the region that is operating under the auspices of the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Norway has in all some 600 soldiers in Afghanistan while Finland
has contributed some 100 soldiers.
Finnish President Tarja Halonen and Defence Minister Jyri Hakamies
expressed their condolences over the soldier's death.
Norwegian Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strom-Erichsen said the
attack would not lead to a withdrawl of Norwegian forces from
Afghanistan.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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