Australian commando killed in Afghanistan

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Australian commando killed in Afghanistan
Fri Nov 23, 2007 1:21am EST

CANBERRA (Reuters) - An Australian commando was
killed in a clash with Taliban militia in Afghanistan
on Friday, a day before Australians go to the polls
in national elections in which the war in Iraq and
Afghanistan will feature.

The 26-year-old soldier was killed during an
operation against Taliban bomb-making bases in
Uruzgan province, Australian Defense Force
commander Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston told
a news conference. "It was part of our commitment
to take the fight directly to the Taliban, who
seek to deny the people of Afghanistan a brighter
future," Houston told reporters in Canberra.

The soldier was the third Australian killed in
recent months in the restive province. His death
comes on the eve of the November 24 elections
marked by popular opposition to Canberra's
military role in both the Iraq war and
Afghanistan.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSSYD16286820071123