Marine loses foot in mine explosion

A US Marine has lost a foot in a landmine explosion in Afghanistan.

Corporal Chris Chandler has been flown to an unidentified country for treatment.

He stepped on a mine while on a patrol to secure the airport at Kandahar, says a Marines spokesman.

Two other Marines suffered wounds in the hand or arm in the same blast.

They are in a stable condition at the Marines' Camp Rhino southwest of Kandahar, Capt David Romley says.

Capt Romley says the men were believed to have been hurt by a plastic mine which had eluded discovery by an earlier sweep for metal mines.

Meanwhile, 13 loads of troops and materials have been flown into the airport during the night, despite unusually heavy rains, says Lt James Jarvis, another spokesman.

Lt Jarvis says the Marines are expanding their security lines around the airport to the south and east. Local anti-Taliban forces are also helping to provide a security ring around the airport.

Navy Seabees and other construction units are preparing to resupply water and improve runways bombed during the two-month US air campaign against Kandahar.

Lt Jarvis says about one-third of the 10,000ft of runways and taxiways are usable.