January 03, 2008	Thursday	Zilhaj 23, 1428

KABUL, Jan 2: A US-led coalition soldier was killed on Wednesday in a bomb blast in Afghanistan, making him the first troop to die this year in the country, the military said.

An Afghan interpreter was also killed in the attack in the eastern province of Khost, the coalition said in a statement.

“One coalition soldier and one Afghan civilian, working with coalition forces, died from wounds received when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near their vehicle,” the statement said.

Two other soldiers were wounded in the explosion, caused by a home-made bomb similar to those used by the Taliban, it added.

The statement said the condition of the wounded soldiers was “unknown at this time”.—AFP