NATO soldier, civilians killed in Afghanistan

KABUL - A NATO soldier and three civilians were killed in southern Afghanistan, while a journalist working for The New York Times newspaper was injured, officials said Saturday.

The soldier died following an “insurgent attack” in the volatile region Saturday, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement. The military did not reveal the deceased’s nationality nor did it provide further detail regarding the nature of the assault.

More than 600 international soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan so far in 2010, the bloodiest year for NATO troops since their deployment in late 2001. Around 150,000 US and NATO soldiers are currently stationed in the war-ravaged country.

Meanwhile, two civilians were killed and one injured during a firefight between NATO forces and suspected insurgents in Wardak, some 50 km southwest of Kabul Saturday, Mohammad Haleem Fedayee, the provincial governor said.

According to initial information the civilians, including a child, were killed by the alliance forces, he said, adding that the deaths sparked a demonstration by the local villagers, who blocked the highway linking the capital city to southern province of Kandahar for around an hour.

The governor condemned the killings. NATO military said they were investigating the incident.

Separately, a civilian was killed in Kandahar’s provincial capital, also called Kandahar Saturday, when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive-packed motorbike before reaching his target, Sardar Mohammed Zazai, the provincial police chief said.

The bomber died in the blast, while two more civilians were injured, he said.

Also in Kandahar, a photographer for The New York Times was seriously injured when he stepped on a mine in Arghandab district Saturday, the newspaper said.

Joao Silva, 44, was accompanying US troops on foot patrol when the incident took place, it said.

Silva has photographed conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Balkans and South Africa. He has also received several awards for his work, according to newspaper.

Thousands of US, Canadian and Afghan troops are currently taking part in a major operation in Kandahar, the spiritual home for Taliban militants.