Soldier death
May 25, 2011
Germany's Bild Zeitung website reported Wednesday that a German soldier had been killed by an explosion northwest of Kunduz province in northern Afghanistan, and that two others were injured in the attack.
The news outlet said the head of the German armed forces, speaking at headquarters in Potsdam near Berlin, had confirmed the Tuesday attack.
Officials for Germany's Green Party said two others were injured in the attack, including another soldier and a translator.
"We condemn this malicious and horrible attack in the most severe terms," Green party heads Renate Künast and Jürgen Trittin said in an initial statement.
Since 2001, the beginning of the NATO-led ISAF mission in Afghanistan, 48 German soldiers have died in Afghanistan, 30 in direct combat.
Germany currently has just over 4,800 troops stationed in Afghanistan, mostly in the relatively calm northern Kunduz province. In January, the government extended the country's mandate for another year and increased the upper troop limit to 5,350.
Author: Gabriel Borrud (dpa, dapd)
Editor: Martin Kuebler