Spokesman confirms third soldier to be killed in a week
(22 Sep 2004) N.B. This story is on tape EF04/0940 SHOTLIST Kabul - 22 Sept 2004 1. Wide shot of briefing 2. Side shot of soldier at briefing 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Major Scott Nelson, Coalition Spokesman "On Monday we reported the Afghan national army, the coalition forces made contact with anti-coalition militia in eight separate incidents throughout the country. As a result of this fighting, three US soldiers were killed, 14 US soldiers were injured, six A and A soldiers were injured, one A and A soldiers was reported missing and approximately nine ACMs (Anti-Coalition Militants) were confirmed killed. We report the deaths of these American soldiers who died courageously with deep sadness and offer our heartfelt condolences to their loved ones." 4. Reporters 5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Major Scott Nelson, Coalition Spokesman "Two of the Americans killed in the Paktia province were killed when they were conducting a search, a large force of ACMs (Anti-Coalition Militants)was able to launch an attack against them. They were killed by mortar rounds as they came in and impacted in that area and that's where the A and A soldiers were injured as well." 6. Reporters 7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Major Scott Nelson, Coalition Spokesman "As we continue active operations against ACMs (Anti-Coalition Militants) in their attempts to disrupt the elections, our intent is to disrupt their capabilities to do planning, as well as to conduct operations against the elections on 9 October." Orgun, Paktia province - Recent 8. Various of US soldiers conducting operation in Orgun, Paktia province (same province as today's casualties) STORYLINE An American soldier was killed in an attack on a patrol in eastern Afghanistan, the US military said on Wednesday - the third American service person to die in the country this week. American spokesman Major Scott Nelson said the soldier was killed on Monday in Khost province, close to the Pakistani border, but said he had no further details. The military already announced the death of two US soldiers on Monday in neighbouring Paktia province, and said on Wednesday that they were killed by mortar fire. The soldiers were conducting a search operation when "a large force of anti-coalition militants was able to launch an attack" with mortars, Nelson said. Six Afghan soldiers were also wounded. The US-led force called in A-10 ground attack aircraft and a B-1 bomber, which dropped two 500-pound bombs on the attackers. US-led troops clashed with militants in eight separate locations on Monday, Nelson said. A total of 14 American troops were injured and one Afghan soldier was listed as missing, he added. The wave of attacks suggest that militants are stepping up their operations in the run-up to the October 9 presidential elections - the first national vote since the fall of the Taliban. According to the US Defence Department, about 140 US military personnel have died during Operation Enduring Freedom, which was launched after the September 11 attacks in the United States in 2001. About 100 have died in and around Afghanistan, and more than 50 have died in action. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
