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U.S. Marine, Afghan soldier killed in clash

Posted on: Friday, 19 August 2005, 09:17 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

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