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| Heavy US losses in Afghan battle | Heavy US losses in Afghan battle |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Eight American soldiers and two Afghan troops have been killed in the deadliest attack on coalition troops for more than a year, officials say. | Eight American soldiers and two Afghan troops have been killed in the deadliest attack on coalition troops for more than a year, officials say. |
| The battle happened in Nuristan province in the remote east of the country when military outposts were attacked, a Nato statement said. | The battle happened in Nuristan province in the remote east of the country when military outposts were attacked, a Nato statement said. |
| The Taliban said it carried out the attack, and had captured local police. | The Taliban said it carried out the attack, and had captured local police. |
| Violence has escalated in eastern Afghanistan as insurgents have relocated from the south. | Violence has escalated in eastern Afghanistan as insurgents have relocated from the south. |
| In a statement, Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said that tribal militia launched attacks on foreign and Afghan military outposts from a mosque and a nearby village. | In a statement, Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said that tribal militia launched attacks on foreign and Afghan military outposts from a mosque and a nearby village. |
| My heart goes out to the families of those we have lost and to their fellow soldiers who remained to finish the fight... Both the US and Afghan soldiers fought bravely together Col Randy GeorgeUS area commander | My heart goes out to the families of those we have lost and to their fellow soldiers who remained to finish the fight... Both the US and Afghan soldiers fought bravely together Col Randy GeorgeUS area commander |
| The attack is thought to have taken place in the Kamdesh district of Nuristan, and lasted several hours. | The attack is thought to have taken place in the Kamdesh district of Nuristan, and lasted several hours. |
| "Coalition forces effectively repelled the attack and inflicted heavy enemy casualties while eight Isaf and two ANSF [Afghan National Security Forces] members were killed," the statement said. | "Coalition forces effectively repelled the attack and inflicted heavy enemy casualties while eight Isaf and two ANSF [Afghan National Security Forces] members were killed," the statement said. |
| The US area commander, Col Randy George, said his heart went out to the bereaved families, adding that US and Afghan soldiers had "fought bravely together". | The US area commander, Col Randy George, said his heart went out to the bereaved families, adding that US and Afghan soldiers had "fought bravely together". |
| It was the worst loss coalition troops have suffered since August 2008, when 10 French troops were killed in an ambush in Kabul province. | It was the worst loss coalition troops have suffered since August 2008, when 10 French troops were killed in an ambush in Kabul province. |
| A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the movement was behind the attack. | A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the movement was behind the attack. |
| According to AP news agency, Mr Mujahid also said some 35 Afghan police officers had been taken into Taliban custody, and their fate would be decided by a council. | According to AP news agency, Mr Mujahid also said some 35 Afghan police officers had been taken into Taliban custody, and their fate would be decided by a council. |
| A local deputy police chief is reported to have said contact had been lost with 19 police officers, though the provincial governor is quoted as denying any such development. | A local deputy police chief is reported to have said contact had been lost with 19 police officers, though the provincial governor is quoted as denying any such development. |
| Dangerous province | Dangerous province |
| WORST SINGLE ATTACKS ON FOREIGN FORCES Sept 2009: Six Italian soldiers die in suicide bomb in KabulAug 2008: Ten French troops killed in ambush in Sarobi, east of KabulJuly 2008: Nine US soldiers die in militant siege in Wanar, bordering Nuristan and Wanar provincesNov 2007: Six US soldiers and three Afghan troops killed in ambush July 2007: Six Canadian soldiers and Afghan interpreter die when vehicle hits IED in Kandahar provinceMay 2007: Five US, one UK, one Canadian soldier die in hostile attack on helicopter in Helmand provinceJune 2005: Sixteen US soldiers die in attack on helicopter in Konar province | |
| It is not the first time coalition forces have suffered damaging attacks in this region, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul. | It is not the first time coalition forces have suffered damaging attacks in this region, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul. |
| Nine US soldiers were killed in a single incident last year when more than 100 fighters breached a US outpost in the village of Wanat on the border of Nuristan and Kunar provinces. | Nine US soldiers were killed in a single incident last year when more than 100 fighters breached a US outpost in the village of Wanat on the border of Nuristan and Kunar provinces. |
| The incident, which is still being investigated, was the biggest American loss of life in battle in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001, and forced US and Afghan soldiers to abandon the village. | The incident, which is still being investigated, was the biggest American loss of life in battle in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001, and forced US and Afghan soldiers to abandon the village. |
| The province's mountainous terrain makes it easier for insurgents to sneak up and launch attacks, but more difficult for military forces to access the area, our correspondent says. | The province's mountainous terrain makes it easier for insurgents to sneak up and launch attacks, but more difficult for military forces to access the area, our correspondent says. |
| Nuristan has been for decades been a crossing point for fighters entering the country from Pakistan, he adds. | Nuristan has been for decades been a crossing point for fighters entering the country from Pakistan, he adds. |
| US anxiety | US anxiety |
| The security situation in northern and eastern Afghanistan has deteriorated since the beginning of the year. | The security situation in northern and eastern Afghanistan has deteriorated since the beginning of the year. |
| An insecure security situation has been exacerbated by political uncertainty | An insecure security situation has been exacerbated by political uncertainty |
| The instability has been exacerbated by political uncertainty created by August's presidential poll, which has been marred by widespread fraud allegations. | The instability has been exacerbated by political uncertainty created by August's presidential poll, which has been marred by widespread fraud allegations. |
| The commander of the more than 100,000 Nato and US forces in the country, US Gen Stanley McChrystal, has described the situation as "serious" and is believed to have requested up to 40,000 additional troops. | The commander of the more than 100,000 Nato and US forces in the country, US Gen Stanley McChrystal, has described the situation as "serious" and is believed to have requested up to 40,000 additional troops. |
| But US President Barack Obama - who has already sent thousands of extra troops to the country - says strategy in Afghanistan must be agreed before a decision can be made on whether to bolster military forces further. | But US President Barack Obama - who has already sent thousands of extra troops to the country - says strategy in Afghanistan must be agreed before a decision can be made on whether to bolster military forces further. |