Norwegian soldier killed in Afghanistan

OSLO, Nov 8 (Reuters) A Norwegian soldier was killed and another severely wounded by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan today, Norwegian defence officials said.

The two soldiers were on their way to a shooting range near their camp in Maimana, northern Afghanistan, when a bomb hit their car. It was the third death of a Norwegian soldier in Afghanistan.

Norway has about 500 soldiers in Afghanistan with the NATO-led international force sent there after US and Afghan opposition forces toppled the Taliban in 2001.

Defence officials said on Tuesday Norway would reinforce its military presence there next year, bringing numbers above 700 for a limited period.

Reuters MP VP0225