U.S. soldier killed, six wounded in Afghan battle

KABUL, May 20 (Reuters) One U.S. soldier was killed and six wounded during a battle with insurgents in Afghanistan, the U.S. military said today.

The soldier was killed in the southern province of Uruzgan as U.S.-led and Afghan forces were conducting a joint operation, the military said in a statement.

Twenty-four U.S. troops have been killed in Afghanistan this year including 10 who died this month when their helicopter crashed during an operation in an eastern province.

About 100 people, including a Canadian soldier, were killed in violence on Wednesday and Thursday, most in fighting in the southern provinces of Helmand and Kandahar.

REUTERS MIR VC0938