AFGHANISTAN/DENMARK: German Defence Minister reacts to death of German soldiers in Afghanistan

Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung extended his sympathy to the families of the victims of a suicide bomber who killed three German soldiers and six civilians in a crowded street market in northern Afghanistan on Saturday (May 19) in the latest violence blamed on the Taliban, Speaking from Copenhagen, Jung said that despite the attack German troops would continue their mission in Afghanistan. "As far as I know now three German soldiers have been killed, two have been severely injured and one is slightly injured. My thoughts go out to the families of these soldiers," he said. "I can say that we will continue to fulfil our assignment in the Regional Command North. And one thing is clear: This assignment carries great risks for our soldiers. Again, our hearts go out to the families of the deceased. But we will continue our work there." Taliban insurgents have stepped up attacks in Afghanistan in recent weeks following the traditional winter lull. The Taliban has said it has trained hundreds of suicide bombers to carry out attacks. In the northern city of Kunduz, the suicide bomber struck when the German soldiers got out of their patrol vehicle to shop at a packed street market where pots, green tea and other goods were sold. A Taliban commander claimed responsibility for the Kunduz bombing and said the death toll was higher. Speaking via satellite telephone he told Reuters that the suicide mission had been very successful and 10 German troops had been killed with dozens more injured. About 3,200 German troops are deployed in Afghanistan, providing security in northern areas that have been relatively safe until recently. The worst violence has been concentrated in southern parts of the country. The Kunduz bombing was the most serious attack on the Germans in nearly four years. In June 2003, four German soldiers were killed and 29 were injured when their bus was attacked on the way to the airport in Kabul. Many Germans oppose the Afghanistan deployment as their nation struggles to define its international role more than 60 years after the end of World War Two. The spate of attacks this week followed the death of the insurgents' top operational commander, Mullah Dadullah, in a U.S.-led coalition raid last weekend. It was considered the biggest blow to the Taliban since they were driven from power in 2001. In Kapisa province, northeast of Kabul, militants ambushed and tried to trap Afghan and coalition forces before midnight Friday (May 18) in the al-Asay valley, a coalition spokesman said. On Thursday 35 Taliban fighters, including three senior commanders, were killed in U.S.-led coalition air strikes in the Bakwa district of western Farah province, according to a local police chief.

ITN Source | May 20, 2007

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