LOC09:35
06:35 GMT
PARIS, June 11 (KUNA) -- A French airman was killed late Friday in a
helicopter accident while on patrol with another helicopter and a second
French airman was seriously wounded in the same crash, the government
announced here Saturday.
The accident occurred in bad weather about 20 kilometres from the major
airbase in Bagram.
The Gazelle helicopter which crashed was on a mission alongside a Cougar
helicopter when it went down, a statement here said.
It was also reported that another French soldier died in a separate
incident at the Tagrab base after his weapon was discharged.
The latest casualties bring the number of French dead in Afghanistan to 60
since they were first deployed there in 2001.
France has around 3,700 soldiers serving in Afghanistan as part of the
International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) that has been fighting
Taliban militants and Al-Qaeda groups for the past ten years.(end)
jk.mao
KUNA 110935 Jun 11NNNN