Canada in Afghanistan

[John McGillivray]

Dutch soldier killed in Afghanistan explosion
Updated Fri. Apr. 20 2007 7:11 AM ET
Associated Press
THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- A Dutch soldier was killed early Friday in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the first fatality from hostile action among Dutch troops serving with NATO forces in the country, the Netherlands' defence chief said.
Gen. Dick Berlijn said the soldier, a corporal whose name was not released, was killed in the southern Helmand province while on a foot patrol as part of Operation Achilles, launched last month by NATO to flush out militants entrenched in the opium-producing area.
Most Dutch troops in Afghanistan are stationed in neighbouring Uruzgan province on a reconstruction mission, but Dutch forces also have taken part in NATO offensives against the Taliban.
The corporal was the sixth Dutch soldier killed on Afghan duty since the government sent nearly 2,000 troops to Uruzgan last August. Three died in aviation accidents, one in an armoured car crash and another in an apparent suicide.

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