Taliban suicide attack kills two German soldiers in Afghanistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, May 28, IRNA -- Two German soldiers were killed and a top German general was injured Saturday in a Taliban suicide blast in the northern Afghan city of Taleqan, according to German media reports.
The Taliban bomber disguised himself with an Afghan security uniform and detonated his bomb vest as the officials were leaving a meeting in Taleqan, killing reportedly at least seven people.
German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere said two of the dead were German soldiers, while three German military personnel, including the northern Afghanistan commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) General Markus Kneip, were wounded.
Kneip is widely believed to be the highest NATO officer to be a casualty in a Taliban attack since western troops entered Afghanistan in 2001.
The latest bombing in Taleqan comes only three days, after another German soldier was killed and one more was wounded.
Some 50 German soldiers have reportedly been killed in Afghanistan since the start of the war in that country in late 2001.
Germany which extended the Afghan military mandate for another year in February, has deployed around 5,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Most Germans are deeply opposed to the military mission in that country.
Berlin hopes to begin the pullout by the end of this year and conclude the withdrawal by 2014, depending on the overall Afghan security situation.
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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30407558
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