Two Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan

31 May 2011, 8:33 am   -   Source: SBS staff
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Two Australian soldiers have been killed in an incident in Afghanistan, Defence Force Chief Angus Houston says.

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Two Australian soldiers have been killed in separate incidents in Afghanistan, Defence Force Chief Angus Houston says.

A 25 year-old Lance Corporal was shot by an Afghan soldier, Houston said. He said the Australian could not be saved, and the Afghan national army soldier fled the scene, despite being shot at by an Afghan colleague. The Australian soldier cannot be named.

The first incident took place at Patrol Base Marshal in the Chora Valley.

"Despite receiving substantial medical treatment at the base and being airlifted very quickly to a nearby medical facility at Tarin Kowt in well under an hour the Australian soldier died from his
wounds," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

The defence force is gathering information from the area of operations. Houston said the incident is 'disturbing' and theat Australia remains 'commited' to its mentoring role with Afghan troops.

In a seperate incident, a Australian 27 year-old officer -a lieutenant - was killed wheh a Chinook helicopter crashed 90km east of Australian base Tarin Kowt. US troops witnessed the incident and provided assistance, to no avail. Houston says it is unknown if the helicopter was shot down.

Other Australians who were on board are in a 'satisfactory condition', Houston says.

The helicopter could not be retreived.

The news follows the arrival in Australia on Monday of slain Australian soldier Brett Wood.

The 32-year-old Wood was killed in Afghanistan more than a week ago in a bomb blast that also injured two other soldiers.

Defence Minister Stepehen Smith said 'resolve' was now needed by the ADF in the country.
 

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