(20 Jun 2006)
1. Various of tank on fire with coalition soldiers nearby
2. Soldiers at the explosion scene
3. Various of burning tank
4. Various of soldiers watching burning tank
5. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): Abdullah, witness (Only one name given):
"I was making a brick, I heard an explosion, I saw Coalition forces vehicle on fire. We were far and I didn't see the casualties, I just saw the coalition forces vehicle burning."
6. Wide of tanks and soldiers
STORYLINE
An explosion tore apart a coalition tank in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing one Romanian soldier and wounding four others, the military and a witness said.
The attack came amid a large-scale US-led offensive across four southern provinces aimed at curbing the deadliest spike in Taliban violence since the extremist regime's 2001 ouster.
Tuesday morning's blast targeted a four-vehicle Romanian convoy just outside the southern city of Kandahar as the troops were returning to their base, the Romanian Defence Ministry said in a statement.
One vehicle drove over an explosive device, killing a 38-year-old corporal instantly and wounding three other soldiers, one seriously.
A fourth soldier suffered leg wounds when he stepped on another explosive device after the remaining Romanian vehicles stopped to help the targeted vehicle.
The wounded soldiers were airlifted by helicopter to a military medical facility in Kandahar, 420 kilometres (261 miles) southwest of the capital, Kabul.
The explosion was so powerful that it split a tank in two pieces and left its hull engulfed in flames.
It was not immediately clear what caused the fatal explosion, but military officials are investigating if it was a roadside bomb or land mine, a Canadian spokeswoman said.
At least three other Romanian troops have been killed in Afghanistan since 2003.
Romania has about 700 peacekeeping troops in Afghanistan.
Attacks on coalition forces have continued despite the launch of a massive offensive, dubbed Operation Mountain Thrust, aimed at capturing or killing Taliban militants.
Keyword-explosion
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
