FED:Aust soldier killed in Afghanistan =7

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2010
FED:Aust soldier killed in Afghanistan =7

Senator Faulkner said the latest casualty would likely raise questions about Australia's
involvement in Afghanistan.

"I believe our work there is absolutely vital," he said.

"This soldier, and his fellow soldiers have been doing the difficult, but essential
work of training and mentoring the Afghan national Army."

Threats to national security "are not defeated by distance", he said.

"The work of protecting our community must include preventing Afghanistan from becoming
a fertile ground for terrorism."

Air Marshal Houston said it was not known how many insurgents were involved in the firefight.

"The contact went on for quite a long time," he said.

"There was clearly a number of them.

"It was primarily small arms that were used in the contact."

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KEYWORD: AFGHAN AUST 2ND UPDATE 6 CANBERRA

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