Coalition soldier killed by roadside bomb in Afghanistan (2nd Lead)

Jul 21, 2008, 9:33 GMT

Kabul - A soldier with the US-led coalition forces died Monday after the vehicle he was travelling in was struck by a roadside bomb in Helmand province, officials said.

A statement released at Bagram Airfield near Kabul said the incident had occurred on Sunday and that the soldier had died subsequently from injuries sustained.

'The identity and nationality of the service member is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin. The incident is under investigation,' the press release said.

In a separate development, an Afghan official said Monday that two Turkish engineers and their interpreter, who had been abducted in the Pashtoon Pul area of western Herat province, had been released on Sunday.

'According to the report we have, these two Turks and their interpreter were released in an unknown part of Herat city,' Abdul Rauf Ahmadi, western region police spokesman, told Deutsche Presse- Agentur dpa.

'According to the report we have, ransom was paid for the releasing of the kidnapped Turks and their interpreter,' he added.

In another development, a soldier of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was killed during fighting in Afghanistan's south-eastern Khost province Sunday, officials said.

'It is with great sorrow that we must announce this brave soldier's death as we offer our sympathies to this soldier's loved ones,' ISAF spokesman Mike Finney said in a press release issued from ISAF headquarters in Kabul.

'This soldier's life was taken while helping bring peace and security to Afghanistan,' the British officer added.

In line with ISAF procedure, the press release did not identify the nationality of the dead soldier.