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Foreign troops die in Afghanistan Six soldiers die in Afghanistan
(about 1 hour later)
Three US soldiers have been killed while fighting insurgents in southern Afghanistan, Nato officials say. Six international soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, Nato officials say, making Monday the deadliest day for foreign troops there in two months.
Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) gave no further details about the incident. Those killed are reported to include three Americans and one French soldier.
In a separate attack, a French soldier was killed and another seriously injured north-east of Kabul, the French president's office said. Earlier, the French president's office said another French soldier had been badly injured north-east of Kabul.
It said the soldiers were patrolling with Afghan troops in the Alasay valley, some 80km (50 miles) of Kabul. It came as a poll commissioned by the BBC and others showed most Afghans are increasingly upbeat about the state of their country.
Of more than 1,500 Afghans questioned, 70% said they believed Afghanistan was going in the right direction - a big jump from 40% a year ago.
The Americans died when they were caught in a firefight with militants during an "operational patrol" in southern Afghanistan, US military spokesman Col Wayne Shanks says.
The French spokesman said its soldiers were patrolling with Afghan troops in the Alasay valley, some 80km (50 miles) from the capital.
France is among the top five contributors to Isaf operations and has almost 3,000 troops deployed, mainly in eastern Afghanistan.France is among the top five contributors to Isaf operations and has almost 3,000 troops deployed, mainly in eastern Afghanistan.
Taliban militants often target Afghan and foreign troops in the south, where the insurgency is at its strongest.Taliban militants often target Afghan and foreign troops in the south, where the insurgency is at its strongest.
On Sunday, an American service member and two Afghan road construction workers were killed in separate attacks in southern Afghanistan.On Sunday, an American service member and two Afghan road construction workers were killed in separate attacks in southern Afghanistan.
Earlier this month, a suicide bomber killed seven CIA agents at America's Forward Operating Base Chapman near the eastern Afghan city of Khost.Earlier this month, a suicide bomber killed seven CIA agents at America's Forward Operating Base Chapman near the eastern Afghan city of Khost.
President Barack Obama announced last month that an additional 30,000 US troops would be deployed quickly in Afghanistan to fight the insurgency.President Barack Obama announced last month that an additional 30,000 US troops would be deployed quickly in Afghanistan to fight the insurgency.
The reinforcements will take the total number of US troops in Afghanistan to more than 100,000.The reinforcements will take the total number of US troops in Afghanistan to more than 100,000.