Finnish soldier killed in Afghanistan, 4 wounded

HELSINKI/OSLO, May 23 (Reuters) A Finnish soldier was killed and four Norwegians were wounded in a bomb attack in Maimana, Afghanistan, Finnish and Norwegian military officials said today.

The death was the first Finnish casualty in the Afghan peacekeeping operation. One Norwegian soldier was killed there three years ago and several have been wounded.

The troops were patrolling on foot, protecting ISAF the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force hospital staff when a roadside bomb exploded about 100 metres from the base, Commandant Mauri Koskela from the Finnish Defence Forces International Centre told Reuters.

The wounded were taken to the hospital, where the Finn later died.

Norwegian Major Roy Skogstad said four Norwegians, three officers and a soldier, were injured and they were evacuated to the field hospital.

''Their lives are not in danger,'' Skogstad told Reuters.

Violence has surged in Afghanistan in recent months following a traditional winter lull, but the province of Faryab and its capital Maimana have been relatively peaceful.

There are some 100 Finnish and 600 Norwegian troops in Afghanistan.

REUTERS DS KN1702