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US soldiers killed in Afghanistan US soldiers killed in Afghanistan
(about 4 hours later)
The US military in Afghanistan says two of its soldiers have been killed in an explosion in eastern Paktika province. Two US soldiers have been killed in an attack on a military base in the eastern Afghan province of Paktika.
Four others were hurt in the blast, which a spokesman said was caused by a possible improvised explosive device. The US military said the two died in a blast during the attack which injured seven other US and two Afghan troops.
The local governor said a suicide bomber had attacked a military base in Zirok district, killing the men. Local officials say the attack included an attempted suicide lorry bombing of the base in Zirok district. Nato said 10 militants died in the fighting.
Afghan officials say an ensuing US attack killed many rebels. The incident comes as thousands of US and UK troops are on the offensive in the south. The attack comes as thousands of US and UK troops are on the offensive against militants in southern Helmand province.
The US military operation in Helmand province is the biggest since the American-led invasion of 2001 and comes ahead of presidential elections scheduled for August. The operation in Helmand is the biggest since the American-led invasion of 2001 and comes ahead of Afghan presidential elections scheduled for August.
British forces in Helmand say they have encountered little resistance from the Taliban. Troops are moving into a large swathe of territory in Helmand province that had been a stronghold for insurgents. British forces in Helmand say they have so far encountered little resistance from the Taliban. Troops are moving into a large swathe of territory in Helmand province that had been a stronghold for insurgents.
'Random fire''Random fire'
US military spokesman Sergeant Charles Marsh said the explosion occurred on Saturday morning. The US military called the attack on the base in Zirok "complex".
US troops are working to flush out Taliban from Helmand province Nato said insurgents attacked the base with multiple rockets and mortars, as well as small arms fire and "a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device".
"Then the base came under random fire by insurgents. We do have two US service members killed and four wounded," he said. A statement said Afghan and Nato-led troops "responded with counter fire, close air support and attack helicopters, killing at least 10 of the attackers and detaining one".
He confirmed that air support had been called in. Earlier, local officials said an attempted suicide lorry bombing of the base had sparked a fierce two-hour gunbattle.
Paktika governor Abdul Qayum Katawazi told the BBC that the base had been attacked by a suicide bomber and that an Afghan soldier had also been injured. Nato and Paktika's Governor, Abdul Qayum Katawazi, both said there were no reports of civilian casualties.
"There was an attack afterwards on the base and as a result 30 Taliban were killed. We have no civilian casualties because there are no civilians in the area." In other violence:
There was no independent confirmation.
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  • seven Afghan policemen are killed by a roadside bomb in Kandahar province, the interior ministry says
  • two Afghan soldiers are killed in a blast in Musa Qala district of Helmand province, the defence ministry says
  • Nato says one of its soldiers was killed by a roadside bomb in the south on Friday
Paktika, which borders Pakistan's Waziristan region, is among Afghan provinces worst hit by the insurgency.Paktika, which borders Pakistan's Waziristan region, is among Afghan provinces worst hit by the insurgency.
The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says local intelligence reports suggest hundreds of Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters have crossed the border in recent weeks to fight Afghan and foreign forces.The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says local intelligence reports suggest hundreds of Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters have crossed the border in recent weeks to fight Afghan and foreign forces.
The latest violence in Paktika follows the capture by militants of an American soldier and three Afghans in the province on Tuesday.The latest violence in Paktika follows the capture by militants of an American soldier and three Afghans in the province on Tuesday.