U.S. soldier and a boatload of Afghan rebels die in violence

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/U_S_soldier_and_rebels_die_in_Afghan_violence.html?siteSect=143&sid=6922173&cKey=1153837391000

KABUL (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier and seven insurgents have been killed in two separate clashes in Afghanistan, coalition forces said on Tuesday, in the latest spate of violence in the country.

Afghanistan is going through its bloodiest phase of violence since the ouster of the Taliban government in 2001, with most attacks occurring in the south where NATO will assume security responsibilities next week.

Both incidents occurred on Monday, one in the southeastern province of Paktika and the other in eastern Kunar.

Seven insurgents were killed in the Paktika clash after militants attacked a patrol with small arms and rocket propelled grenades, a forces statement said. A coalition soldier suffered minor shrapnel wounds.