Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Los Angeles Times
April 21, 2007
By Reuters
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — Two NATO soldiers have been killed in separate blasts in southern Afghanistan, the alliance said Friday.
The Defense Ministry in Amsterdam said one of the dead was a Dutch soldier, the Netherlands' first combat casualty in this country, who was killed when he stepped on a land mine in Helmand province.
Five Dutch soldiers died in Afghanistan last year: two in a helicopter crash, one in a fighter plane crash, one in a vehicle accident and one in a suicide.
The second soldier's nationality had not been announced. In line with new North Atlantic Treaty Organization policy, such announcements are left to the home country of the casualties.
Also on Friday, a statement on a website previously used by the Taliban demanded that France withdraw its troops from Afghanistan within a week and that the Afghan government release militia prisoners to save two kidnapped aid workers.
The authenticity of the Taliban message could not be verified. France said it was studying the statement and would make no further comment.
The Afghan government has ruled out any hostage swap to free the two. They were captured two weeks ago by the rebels, who have threatened to behead them and send their heads to Paris. Three Afghans also were seized.
April 21, 2007
By Reuters
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — Two NATO soldiers have been killed in separate blasts in southern Afghanistan, the alliance said Friday.
The Defense Ministry in Amsterdam said one of the dead was a Dutch soldier, the Netherlands' first combat casualty in this country, who was killed when he stepped on a land mine in Helmand province.
Five Dutch soldiers died in Afghanistan last year: two in a helicopter crash, one in a fighter plane crash, one in a vehicle accident and one in a suicide.
The second soldier's nationality had not been announced. In line with new North Atlantic Treaty Organization policy, such announcements are left to the home country of the casualties.
Also on Friday, a statement on a website previously used by the Taliban demanded that France withdraw its troops from Afghanistan within a week and that the Afghan government release militia prisoners to save two kidnapped aid workers.
The authenticity of the Taliban message could not be verified. France said it was studying the statement and would make no further comment.
The Afghan government has ruled out any hostage swap to free the two. They were captured two weeks ago by the rebels, who have threatened to behead them and send their heads to Paris. Three Afghans also were seized.