This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7573827.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Three die in fresh Afghan attack Six dead in fresh Afghan attack
(about 10 hours later)
Three Nato soldiers have been killed in new violence in Afghanistan, days after a deadly Taleban attack on French troops in the country. Six Nato soldiers have been killed in new violence in Afghanistan, days after a deadly Taleban attack on French troops in the country, officials say.
The soldiers died in Ghazni province, in the centre of Afghanistan. Polish news agency PAP said they were members of Warsaw's contingent in the country. Three of the dead are Canadians, bringing to 93 the number of Canadian soldiers killed there since it sent troops to the war-torn country in 2002.
Elsewhere, there were unconfirmed reports that coalition troops killed 30 militants to the north-east of Kabul. Wednesday's deaths are the worst one-day toll for Canadians since last year when six soldiers died in an explosion.
The other three dead were Poles killed on Thursday in the province of Ghazni.
The three Canadians died when a roadside bomb went off in southern Afghanistan, a Canadian army spokesman said.
We seek out terrorists and we will give them the option to be captured or killed or possibly flee Lt Col Rumi Nielson-GreenCoalition spokeswoman Afghan deaths unsettle FranceTaleban grow more brazenFrench press question Afghan roleBrown visits UK troops
"I don't know that the Taleban are getting stronger. What I'd say is they're much more aggressive this fighting season than they've been in the past," Brig Gen Denis Thompson said.
"The difference is they're not holding any of the ground they're attacking us on."
There are 2,500 Canadians based in the south as part of Nato's mission to fight the Taleban.
See a breakdown of the Isaf deployment
A fourth soldier was reported injured in the attack.
The three Polish soldiers died in Ghazni province, in the centre of Afghanistan. They were members of Warsaw's contingent in the country and were killed by an improvised explosive device, Polish news agency PAP said.
UK visit
Elsewhere, there were unconfirmed reports that coalition troops killed 30 militants in Laghman province, to the north-east of Kabul.
Air strikes and small-arms fire were used in the attack, coalition officials said.
They also said no coalition troops and no Afghan civilians were injured in the operation.
However, there was no independent confirmation of rebel casualty figures.
A US army spokeswoman said it was not "completely certain" that the militants were directly involved in an attack earlier this week on French soldiers, in which 10 died and 21 were injured.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has meanwhile flown to Afghanistan.UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has meanwhile flown to Afghanistan.
Mr Brown, who made the surprise stop en route to Beijing for the closing ceremony of the Olympics, visited British troops at their main base in Helmand province.Mr Brown, who made the surprise stop en route to Beijing for the closing ceremony of the Olympics, visited British troops at their main base in Helmand province.
He then moved on to Kabul for talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.He then moved on to Kabul for talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
His visit comes at a time where there has been an upsurge in deadly violence around the country.His visit comes at a time where there has been an upsurge in deadly violence around the country.
Earlier this week 10 French soldiers died and 21 were injured in a Taleban ambush, prompting President Nicolas Sarkozy to make a visit to the country to meet troops. In the east of the country on Tuesday, a wave of suicide bombers attacked a US military base in the province of Khost, sparking a major battle.
name="story"> class="bodl" href="#map">See a breakdown of the Isaf deployment There have been continued signs in recent weeks that fighting is intensifying across Afghanistan, with rebel attacks reaching ever closer to the capital.
And in the east of the country a wave of suicide bombers attacked a US military base in the province of Khost, sparking a major battle.
Attacks intensifying
A Nato spokesman would not confirm the nationalities of the three soldiers killed in the latest militant attack.
However, the spokesman said the three troops died in an improvised explosive device (IED) strike in Ghazni on Wednesday.
Poland's PAP news agency quoted a Polish officer as saying the attack happened just 20km (12 miles) from their base.
As of June 2008, Poland had 1,140 troops in Afghanistan, Nato said.
News of the latest attack on coalition troops came as commanders said they had inflicted heavy losses on the rebels north-east of the capital, Kabul.
Airstrikes and small-arms fire were used in the attack, in Laghman province, officials said.
They also said no coalition troops and no Afghan civilians were injured in the operation.
However, there was no reliable confirmation of rebel casualty figures.
There have been continued signs in recent weeks that fighting is intensifying across Afghanistan, with rebel attacks reaching ever-closer to the capital.
High toll
Mr Sarkozy visited his country's forces on Wednesday, insisting that the incident - one of the most deadly single attacks on coalition soldiers in years - would not deter Paris from its commitment to the country. The cause is just, it is the honour of France and its armies to defend it Nicolas SarkozyFrench president Afghan deaths unsettle FranceTaleban grow more brazenFrench press question Afghan roleBrown visits UK troops
Now back in Paris, the president will lead tributes to the soldiers in a ceremony later on Thursday.
Mr Sarkozy visited Afghanistan on Wednesday in the wake of what was thought to be the heaviest loss of life suffered by the French military since 58 paratroopers were killed in Beirut in 1983.
His message was one of support not just to the troops, but also to the Nato alliance and Mr Karzai, says the BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kabul.
"Even though the toll is so high, you should be proud of what you are doing. The work that you're doing here is indispensable," Mr Sarkozy told his troops.
The French deployment is not popular at home and the decision was made in April to send extra fighting troops to an even more dangerous part of the country, our correspondent adds.
ISAF REGIONAL COMMANDS AND TROOP NUMBERS Countries contributing more than 1,000 troopsISAF REGIONAL COMMANDS AND TROOP NUMBERS Countries contributing more than 1,000 troops
Australia - 1,100Canada - 2,500France - 2,600Germany - 3,370Italy - 2,350 Netherlands - 1,770Poland - 1,140UK - 8,530US - 14,000* Sources: Isaf, August 2008. *US government statistics. Figures are approximateAustralia - 1,100Canada - 2,500France - 2,600Germany - 3,370Italy - 2,350 Netherlands - 1,770Poland - 1,140UK - 8,530US - 14,000* Sources: Isaf, August 2008. *US government statistics. Figures are approximate
Click to returnClick to return