U.S. Marine, Afghan soldier killed in clash

KABUL (Reuters) – A U.S. Marine and an Afghan government
soldier have been killed in a clash while trying to clear
militants from an area in the run-up to an election next month,
the U.S. military said on Friday.

Four Afghan government soldiers were wounded in the clash
in Kunar province in the east of the country near the border
with Pakistan on Thursday.

“The unit was conducting operations to disrupt enemy forces
working in the area in order to clear the way for successful
elections,” the U.S. military said in a statement.

Taliban and allied militants have condemned the September
18 parliamentary and provincial elections and vowed to attack
those taking part. The government and U.S. officials say the
militants will fail in their bid to spoil the vote.

Also on Thursday, two U.S. soldiers were killed and two
wounded in the southern province of Kandahar when a roadside
bomb blew up their armored vehicle.

In June, 16 American servicemen were killed in Kunar
province when their helicopter was shot down as they tried to
rescue four trapped U.S. special forces soldiers. Only one of
the special forces soldiers survived.

U.S. forces have suffered 43 deaths in combat in
Afghanistan this year making it the worst period since they
arrived to oust the Taliban in October 2001.