2 soldiers dead in Afghanistan bombing

[unhappycamper]

2 soldiers dead in Afghanistan bombing
By FISNIK ABRASHI - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jan 8, 2009 18:24:34 EST

KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber struck U.S. troops patrolling on foot in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, killing at least two soldiers and three civilians and wounding at least nine others, officials said.

The blast followed an allegation from President Hamid Karzai that clashes between U.S.-led troops and insurgents left 17 civilians dead earlier in the week. The U.S. military insists all 32 people killed in the fighting were militants.

It also comes at a time when the U.S. is rushing 20,000 American troops into Afghanistan to combat a Taliban insurgency that has sent violence to record levels.

U.S. officials have warned the violence will probably intensify in the coming year. More U.S. troops, 151, died in Afghanistan in 2008 than in any other year since the 2001 invasion to oust the Taliban.

The bomber hit the U.S. patrol on a busy street lined with shops in Kandahar province’s Maywand district, said district chief Naimatullah Khan. Helicopters took away American casualties, said Khan, but he could not provide any numbers.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_afghanistanbacklash_010809/%2e



uhc comment: To date six hundred thirty four soldiers have died in the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan --> http://icasualties.org/oef/