Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan

An Australian soldier has been killed and another injured in southern Afghanistan, bringing the death toll for the nation’s troops to 17.

The 23-year-old soldier was on foot patrol in the Chora Valley in Uruzgan province when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off shortly after midnight on Friday.

He was the sixth Australian soldier to die in Afghanistan over the past month. This figure includes three commandos killed in a helicopter crash in June.

In addition, 143 Australian service members have been injured in the Afghan war.

Australia has about 1,550 troops in Afghanistan as part of the US-led contingent of forces.