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UK marines in Afghan firefight

UK marine
A British Royal Marine commando adjusts the plate on his bulletproof vest in Afghanistan  


BAGRAM, Afghanistan -- British Marines have been involved in a firefight in eastern Afghanistan in their first direct conflict with enemy fighters.

At least two enemy fighters were hit in the clash with the marine surveillance group, but it is not clear if they were killed or wounded, Marine spokesman Lt. Col. Ben Curry told Reuters news agency in Bagram.

Ten rounds were fired on the covert Marine group in the troubled Khost region after a car carrying three men pulled up near their post, Curry said.

"We fired back in self-defence. At least two people were hit," he said.

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A second car arrived and took away two casualties. None of the 12-member Marine observation team were hurt, he added.

The Marines ended a hunt for al Qaeda and Taliban militants in the mountains north of Khost Wednesday without establishing any contact.

Khost and neighbouring Paktia have remained the focus of intense coalition activity and concern in recent weeks.

Remnants of Taliban and al Qaeda forces are believed to be hiding in the region and there are reports of continued armed clashes between rival militia groups there.

A French mirage jet in the area attempted to follow the vehicle but lost it. The Royal Marines were evacuated by coalition helicopters.

An investigation is under way to discover how the covert observation was compromised, Curry told CNN.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a six-month extension of international troop deployment in Afghanistan on Thursday, as had been expected.

A United Nations senior political official, Kieran Prendegrast, told the Security council that it is too early to say that progress toward democracy has been cemented in Afghanistan, and it would be a waste of all the gains so far if security did not remain strong enough to protect the people and the political process.

The U.N. has backed the fledgling Afghan government in its call for security forces to be deployed throughout the country, but the 18 nations whose troops make up the International Security and Assistance Force have been steadfast in saying the troops should stay in Kabul.

Currently 4,482 troops from 18 nations are on the ground.



 
 
 
 






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