U.S. soldier killed in attack on patrol in southeastern Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Militants attacked U.S. troops patrolling in southeastern Afghanistan on Monday, killing one American soldier and injuring two more with gunfire and rockets, the military said.

The patrol came under fire Monday afternoon near Orgun, a town in Paktika province where U.S. troops man a base close to the Pakistani border, spokesman Maj. Mark McCann said.

The two injured soldiers were rushed to a medical facility at another base in neighboring Khost province, where they were in stable condition, McCann said.

"The patrol received small arms fire and RPG fire," McCann said. "Unfortunately, one U.S. soldier was killed and two wounded."

None of the soldiers was identified.

The death brought to at least 109 the number of U.S. soldiers killed in and around Afghanistan since the launch of Operation Enduring Freedom after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in America.

A total of 58 of the victims were killed in action, according to a tally on the Web site of the U.S. Department of Defense, while the rest died in accidents.