ISAF spokesman comment on death of Australian soldier
(9 Oct 2007) 1. Wide of Major Charles Anthony ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) spokesman in Afghanistan talking to reporter 2. Close-up of gun in holster 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Major Charles Anthony, International Security Assistance Force spokesman in Afghanistan: "Unfortunately we suffered a loss. An Australian soldier was killed in Uruzgan province yesterday. He's the first Australian soldier to be killed as part of the ISAF's operations here in Afghanistan." 4. Cutaway of military symbol 5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Major Charles Anthony, International Security Assistance Force spokesman in Afghanistan: "This soldier was part of the reconstruction task force in Uruzgan province. He was heading back to his base when he, unfortunately, was killed by a roadside IED, or improvised explosive device. There was also one other Australian soldier who was wounded in that particular incident." 6. Close-up of boots 7. Anthony talking to reporter STORYLINE: Australia has sustained its first combat casualty in Afghanistan or Iraq after a roadside bomb killed a soldier in southern Afghanistan, the country's military announced on Tuesday. 41-year-old trooper David Pearce was killed on Monday when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off near the armoured vehicle he was driving in Afghanistan's Uruzgan province. "He's the first Australian soldier to be killed as part of the ISAF's operations here in Afghanistan," said International Security Assistance Force spokesman in Afghanistan, Major Charles Anthony. Another soldier was injured in the attack, but is expected to recover. The soldier's death comes as Australia prepares for a general election due to be held before 19 January 2008. Polls show conservative Prime Minister John Howard facing a landslide defeat amid rising opposition to Australia's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. Howard has refused to set a timetable for withdrawing Australian troops from either conflict, saying they will remain for as long as they are needed. But the soldier's death is likely to increase calls for a phased Australian withdrawal, as a recent survey by the government-funded US Studies Centre found that as many as 64 per cent of Australians oppose the Iraq war, and 51 per cent oppose Australia's involvement in Afghanistan. Australia maintains around 1-thousand troops in Afghanistan and 1,500 troops in and around Iraq, but had not lost any soldiers from direct enemy attacks until now. An Australian soldier accidentally shot himself in his Baghdad barracks last year, and several Australians have been wounded in clashes with the Taliban over recent months. Australia's involvement in Iraq is a key policy difference between Howard and opposition leader Kevin Rudd who, opinion polls show, is heading for a decisive victory. Rudd says he will bring Australia's roughly 550 combat troops home from Iraq in a phased withdrawal, leaving about 1-thousand others in support and training roles. 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...
