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/7034144.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Australian killed in Afghan blast | Australian killed in Afghan blast |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An Australian soldier has become the first to die in direct combat in Afghanistan, after being killed in a roadside bomb attack. | An Australian soldier has become the first to die in direct combat in Afghanistan, after being killed in a roadside bomb attack. |
| An improvised explosive device detonated near the soldier's vehicle in central Uruzgan province, the defence department in Canberra said. | An improvised explosive device detonated near the soldier's vehicle in central Uruzgan province, the defence department in Canberra said. |
| Another soldier was seriously wounded. The Australian government has not yet released the names of the casualties. | Another soldier was seriously wounded. The Australian government has not yet released the names of the casualties. |
| Australia sent troops to join US-led forces in Afghanistan in late 2001. | Australia sent troops to join US-led forces in Afghanistan in late 2001. |
| "This is a tragic day for the Australian Defence Force and our thoughts are with the families and friends of the two soldiers involved," the defence department said. | "This is a tragic day for the Australian Defence Force and our thoughts are with the families and friends of the two soldiers involved," the defence department said. |
| There are 970 Australian army and air force troops in Afghanistan, mostly operating under the auspices of Nato as part of a predominantly Dutch force in the country's south. | |
| Some 500 Australian soldiers are involved in the reconstruction of Afghanistan's infrastructure, based in Tarin Kowt, 200 miles (320km) south-west of Kabul. | |
| A further 300 are special forces soldiers who conduct wide area patrols aimed at curbing the Taleban insurgency. | |
| In February 2002, an Australian special forces soldier died after his vehicle hit a landmine in southern Afghanistan - but the latest death was the first from a direct attack. | In February 2002, an Australian special forces soldier died after his vehicle hit a landmine in southern Afghanistan - but the latest death was the first from a direct attack. |