Air Force sergeant killed in accident

A US Air Force sergeant has been killed in an accident in the Arabian Peninsula, becoming the first American death in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Master Sergeant Evander Earl Andrews was assigned to the 366th Civil Engineer Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.

He is said to have originally come from Maine.

Lt. Col Dave Lapan, a defence department spokesman, says Andrews was at a "forward deployed location" supporting the campaign when the incident happened.

He has given no details.

But Tech Sgt Terry Nelson of the Mountain Home base claims he was killed in the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula.

In addition to Andrews, a soldier was seriously injured yesterday in Turkey after being trapped between two trucks, military officials said.

Officials did not disclose the soldier's name, the extent of his injuries or the exact location of the accident.