KABUL, July 24: A US soldier was killed and another wounded in an attack by suspected Taliban guerillas in southern Afghanistan on Sunday, the latest American casualties in a surge of militant violence ahead of September elections.

At least one militant was also killed and two wounded in the clash near the town of Giriskh in Helmand province, Lieutenant-Colonel Jerry O’Hara said, adding that an Afghan interpreter for US forces was wounded.

“The (US) forces were on patrol, part of a regular operation against enemy forces, when they came under attack,” he said.

US troops called in air support against a group of up to 20 militants involved in the attack, O’Hara said.

Early on Sunday, suspected Taliban guerillas blew up a Western-funded hospital Maiwand district of Kandahar province to the north of Spin Boldak, injuring one person, police said. Taliban officials could not immediately be reached for comment.—Reuters