2 more US-led troops fall in Afghanistan

Two NATO soldiers, a Canadian and an American, have been killed in separate incidents in Afghanistan, the commanders of allied forces confirm.

A Canadian soldier on foot patrol was slain when he stepped on an explosive device in the southern province of Kandahar, Brigadier-General Daniel Menard, the commander of allied forces in the province, said Sunday.

His death brings the number of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2002 to 139.

There are currently 2,800 Canadian military personnel in Afghanistan, which will leave the war zone in 2011, following a parliamentary decision to withdraw forces.

The American soldier died in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday after being wounded in a fight with Taliban militants, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force said in a brief statement.

Meanwhile, Jalalabad Airfield military officials said Sunday that several US soldiers were injured in a fight with Taliban militants in Kunar province in northeast Afghanistan, a Press TV correspondent reported.

Details of the casualties inflicted on the US forces and militants were not released. Militants claim at least nine troops have been killed in the attack.

At least 18 NATO troops have been killed in Afghanistan so far this year.

In 2008, the total death toll among international soldiers was 295. The number nearly doubled in 2009, to 520. Military analysts expect a similar rise in the current year.

The western military alliance has 113,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan. Another 40,000 troops will arrive in the country by August.