U.S. Planes Bomb Positions In Southern Afghanistan

29 May 2004 -- U.S. aircraft bombed positions in southern Afghanistan today for the second time this week, after two U.S. soldiers were injured in clashes near the border with Pakistan.

U.S. Colonel Tucker Mansager told a press conference in Kabul the American troops were wounded in clashes on 27 May near the frontier town of Shkin, 230 kilometers south of Kabul in the Paktika Province.

"We had two coalition casualties in the engagement that led up to us using ordnance down there," Mansager said.

In the earlier air strike this week, U.S. forces bombed the area between Qalat in Zabul Province and the southern border town of Spin Boldak. The air strike on 25 May followed coalition troops coming under fire from militants.

(AFP)