Irish woman not among Afghan-ambush victims

An Islamic militant ambush near Kabul on a US aid organisation’s vehicle killed three women, an American, a Canadian-British national and a Trinidadian, officials said.

Early reports suggested an Irish aid worker was among the dead. New information confirms none of the victims were from Ireland.

The three women who were killed worked for the New York-based International Rescue Committee and were attacked in Logar.

Their Afghan driver was also killed.

A spokeswoman for the International Rescue Committee, said they were contacting family members and would issue a statement soon.

The attack was carried out by five gunmen who stepped out of a small village area and fired at the IRC vehicles on the main road.

The International Rescue Committee provides emergency relief, rehabilitation, protection of human rights and post-conflict development in countries around the world, according to its Web site.

Two Afghan IRC staff members were shot and killed in Logar in July 2007 while driving to work on the National Solidarity Programme, a government-led scheme that carries out development projects.

At least 19 staff from aid organisations working in Afghanistan have been killed in militant attacks so far this year, compared with 15 killed for the whole of 2007.