NATO soldier killed in south Afghan clash

KABUL, Jan 15 (Reuters)-NATO troops attacked an insurgent base in southern Afghanistan today and one NATO soldier was killed and several wounded in the fighting, NATO said.

NATO did not give the nationality of the soldier killed, or that of the wounded.

''ISAF soldiers were involved in a pre-planned operation against an insurgent base, when they were engaged from several insurgent positions,'' NATO said, referring to its Afghan force known as the International Security Assistance Force.

''Close air support was requested and targeted the insurgents,'' it said.

Two NATO soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan this year. A British member of the force was killed on Saturday.

Last year was the bloodiest in Afghanistan since US-led forces overthrew the Taliban in 2001.

More than 4,000 people were killed, most of them Taliban militants, but including nearly 170 foreign soldiers killed in attacks or accidents during operations.

REUTERS LL VC1835