One U.S. special operations soldier has been killed and another wounded in an apparent landmine explosion near the southern Afghan city of Kandahar overnight. 

A spokesman for U.S. Central Command says the two soldiers were part of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan and were on a training exercise at a remote site near Kandahar early Thursday when the accident occurred. He had no details on how seriously the other soldier was wounded and said names are being withheld until next of kin are informed. 

Meanwhile in Pakistan, authorities have raided alleged hideouts of al-Qaida terrorists and detained more than 30 suspects. The Interior Ministry said one suspect was killed and a policeman wounded in a shootout during one of the raids Wednesday night in the city of Faisalabad, in Punjab province. 

A senior government official says the raids were part of the government's general crackdown on terrorists and sectarian militants. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP. 

Email this article to a friend.
Printer Friendly Version