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| Militants breached US Afghan base | Militants breached US Afghan base |
| (18 minutes later) | |
| More than 100 insurgents breached a US outpost in north-eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, killing nine US troops in hours of fierce fighting, Nato says. | More than 100 insurgents breached a US outpost in north-eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, killing nine US troops in hours of fierce fighting, Nato says. |
| The militants used rocket propelled grenades and homemade mortars to bombard the base, close to Pakistan's border, from several sides. | The militants used rocket propelled grenades and homemade mortars to bombard the base, close to Pakistan's border, from several sides. |
| The attack caused one of the single worst losses of life for foreign troops since operations began in 2001. | The attack caused one of the single worst losses of life for foreign troops since operations began in 2001. |
| It came as international and Afghan forces fought militants in many areas. | It came as international and Afghan forces fought militants in many areas. |
| One soldier from the US-led coalition was also killed by a bomb in the southern province of Helmand. | One soldier from the US-led coalition was also killed by a bomb in the southern province of Helmand. |
| On Sunday, US forces said 40 insurgents had been killed in Helmand province in 24 hours. There was no independent confirmation of the report. | On Sunday, US forces said 40 insurgents had been killed in Helmand province in 24 hours. There was no independent confirmation of the report. |
| Kunar has seen some of the fiercest fighting of the conflict | Kunar has seen some of the fiercest fighting of the conflict |
| Also on Sunday, at least six Afghan security guards escorting a Nato supply convoy were killed in a roadside bombing in Helmand's Gereshk district, according to police. | Also on Sunday, at least six Afghan security guards escorting a Nato supply convoy were killed in a roadside bombing in Helmand's Gereshk district, according to police. |
| The nine US soldiers were killed in several hours of fierce fighting at the outpost at Wanat, a mountain village in Kunar province, according to a statement from Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf). | The nine US soldiers were killed in several hours of fierce fighting at the outpost at Wanat, a mountain village in Kunar province, according to a statement from Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf). |
| Insurgents pounded the Afghan army and Nato base - which had reportedly only been fully constructed days earlier - with rockets, mortars and machine guns, before breaching the compound and attacking the soldiers from inside. | Insurgents pounded the Afghan army and Nato base - which had reportedly only been fully constructed days earlier - with rockets, mortars and machine guns, before breaching the compound and attacking the soldiers from inside. |
| Isaf and Afghan National Army forces responded with small arms, machine guns, mortars and artillery, before deploying fighter jets and apache helicopters, the statement said. | Isaf and Afghan National Army forces responded with small arms, machine guns, mortars and artillery, before deploying fighter jets and apache helicopters, the statement said. |
| 'Well organised' | 'Well organised' |
| A further 15 Isaf soldiers were wounded along with four Afghan troops, the statement added. | A further 15 Isaf soldiers were wounded along with four Afghan troops, the statement added. |
| "It was a complex attack, well organised and planned," said Isaf spokesman Captain Michael Finney. | "It was a complex attack, well organised and planned," said Isaf spokesman Captain Michael Finney. |
| Mark Laity describes the 'very severe' fighting that took place. | Mark Laity describes the 'very severe' fighting that took place. |
| "It was clear they wanted to overrun the combat outpost. They chose their positions well. It wasn't just an attempt to rush the gate." | "It was clear they wanted to overrun the combat outpost. They chose their positions well. It wasn't just an attempt to rush the gate." |
| There may also have been civilian casualties in the rugged area on the border with Kunar and Nuristan province, according to Afghan officials. | There may also have been civilian casualties in the rugged area on the border with Kunar and Nuristan province, according to Afghan officials. |
| Nato says the rebels suffered heavy casualties. It did not name the attackers but there has been a sharp increase in Taleban attacks in the country, and in that region in particular, although other rebel groups are also known to operate there. | Nato says the rebels suffered heavy casualties. It did not name the attackers but there has been a sharp increase in Taleban attacks in the country, and in that region in particular, although other rebel groups are also known to operate there. |
| The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says Afghanistan's north-eastern border with Pakistan is a well-known trouble spot. | The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says Afghanistan's north-eastern border with Pakistan is a well-known trouble spot. |
| 'Wedding procession' attacked | 'Wedding procession' attacked |
| The fighting is close to where US forces were accused of killing 47 civilians in an air strike in Nangarhar province a week ago. | The fighting is close to where US forces were accused of killing 47 civilians in an air strike in Nangarhar province a week ago. |
| The US military said they were militants. | The US military said they were militants. |
| In a separate incident on Sunday, a suicide bomber killed at least 21 people, many of them children, in a market in the Deh Rawud district of Uruzgan province in the south. | In a separate incident on Sunday, a suicide bomber killed at least 21 people, many of them children, in a market in the Deh Rawud district of Uruzgan province in the south. |
| No group has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing. | No group has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing. |
| According to the US military, the number of Taleban attacks in the east of the country has increased by 40% since last year. | According to the US military, the number of Taleban attacks in the east of the country has increased by 40% since last year. |
| More than 130 foreign soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan this year and recent weeks have seen a sharp rise in insurgency-related violence. | More than 130 foreign soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan this year and recent weeks have seen a sharp rise in insurgency-related violence. |
| Hundreds more, including many militants and civilians, have also died in 2008. | Hundreds more, including many militants and civilians, have also died in 2008. |
| Isaf currently has 53,000 troops from 40 countries. A separate, smaller US-led military force operates alongside it. | Isaf currently has 53,000 troops from 40 countries. A separate, smaller US-led military force operates alongside it. |