Second Romanian soldier dies

 

BUCHAREST, Romania --A Romanian soldier has died of his wounds in Afghanistan after a guerrilla attack earlier this week, the country's Defense Ministry said.

He is the second Romanian to die this week in Afghanistan. The pair are the first since Romania sent troops to aid the U.S. coalition.

The soldiers were part of an armored transporter convey that came under fire from unidentified attackers in southern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border. The first soldier to die on Tuesday was identified as 33-year-old Sgt. Maj. Iosif Silviu Fogorasi.

Romania has contributed 450 troops both to an international peacekeeping force in Kabul and to the U.S.-led force hunting remnants of the ousted Taliban government and Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.

Gen. Said Mohammad, head of Afghan forces in the region, told The Associated Press the attack came when five Romanian armored cars were stopped at a roadblock south of Kandahar's airport, after returning from Spin Boldak town near the Pakistan border.

Mohammad said the Romanian soldiers returned fire and killed Fogorasi's assailant, who was apparently wearing a military uniform.

He ruled out Taliban involvement, the AP added.

Coalition forces and international aid agencies have come under increased attacks in southern Afghanistan -- where the Taliban had a stronghold before they were defeated by the United States two years ago.