Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan

An Australian soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, bringing the number of casualties of the country in the war to 11.

The 22-year old soldier died when a bomb exploded in southern province of Uruzgan where Australian troops were preparing to search a suspected Taliban base.

Another soldier was also seriously injured during the mission, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston told reporters.

The explosion left three Afghan civilians wounded including a child, he added.

Houston acknowledged that 15,000 Australian soldiers stationed in Afghanistan are in a dangerous and difficult situation.

“We are engaged in a very, very challenging campaign,” Houston said. “I should remind everyone that fighting will become more fierce as the summer continues.”