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Soldiers killed in Afghan ambush Nine troops dead in Afghan ambush
(about 2 hours later)
Six Nato soldiers and three Afghan troops have been killed in fighting in eastern Afghanistan, Nato has said. Six US soldiers and three Afghan troops have been killed in fighting in eastern Afghanistan, Nato officials have said.
Militants ambushed a joint patrol of Afghan soldiers and troops from Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Nuristan province, Nato said. Militants ambushed a patrol of Afghan soldiers and US troops from Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Nuristan province.
The rebels attacked with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. The ambush is one of the costliest for US forces this year, already the deadliest for the US since it helped overthrow the Taleban in 2001.
Eight Isaf troops and 11 Afghan troops were also wounded, the alliance said, in one of the most costly incidents this year. Eight US troops and 11 Afghans were also wounded, Isaf officials said.
The Taleban said they carried out the attack, which took place on Friday.The Taleban said they carried out the attack, which took place on Friday.
The rebels attacked from several positions simultaneously with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades as the patrol returned from a meeting with village elders, said Isaf spokesman Brig Gen Carlos Branco.
Taleban resurgenceTaleban resurgence
Nato refused to detail the nationality of the dead foreign soldiers but a US military spokesman said American soldiers were killed in Friday's ambush, Associated Press news agency reported. A US military spokesman described the attack as a "complex ambush".
The spokesman, Lt Col David Accetta, said the troops were returning from a meeting with village elders when they came under fire from several positions simultaneously. The latest casualties bring US fatalities this year in Afghanistan to 101.
He described the attack as a "complex ambush". Fighting between militants and international forces has intensified in the past two years as the Taleban have mounted a resurgence.
Most of the Isaf troops in eastern Afghanistan are American. Attacks have increased in remote Nuristan province, on the border with north-west Pakistan, which has also seen increasing violence from pro-Taleban militants.
Even without counting Friday's casualties, a US military spokesman in Kabul said this year has seen the heaviest losses for US troops in the country since the Taleban were toppled in 2001, with 95 soldiers killed. But Brig Gen Branco told the BBC that despite threats from Taleban leader Mullah Omar to spread the fighting to the north, it was still "fairly safe and stable".
Fighting between militants and international forces has intensified in the last two years as the Taleban have mounted a resurgence.
Attacks have increased in Nuristan province, on the border with north-west Pakistan, which has also seen increasing violence from pro-Taleban militants.
There are currently more than 50,000 foreign soldiers in Afghanistan.There are currently more than 50,000 foreign soldiers in Afghanistan.
About 40,000 are under the command of Isaf, the rest form a coalition under US direction.About 40,000 are under the command of Isaf, the rest form a coalition under US direction.