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10 French soldiers killed in battle near Kabul

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-19 19:41

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghan officials say 10 French soldiers have been killed in a battle outside Kabul, including four soldiers who were kidnapped by insurgents.

French soldiers with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on patrol near Kabul in May. French NATO troops were involved in heavy fighting with insurgents about 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, the alliance force and military officials said. [Agencies]

The officials say the battle happened over two days in the Surobi district of Kabul province, about 30 miles outside of the capital of Kabul.

One Afghan official tells The Associated Press that 10 French soldiers were killed. Another official says that four of those soldiers were kidnapped by insurgents and killed.

Both spoke on condition they weren't identified because they are not supposed to release the information.