Portuguese soldier killed in Afghanistan blast

A Portuguese soldier was killed today in an explosion in Afghanistan, the Portuguese state news agency Lusa reported, citing a Ministry of Defence official.

The sergeant died when an explosion struck his patrol vehicle in the Afghan capital Kabul, Lusa said. Three other soldiers in the vehicle were hurt, other news reports said.

In Afghanistan, peacekeeping spokesman Maj. Andrew Elmes said a land mine explosion killed one international peacekeeping soldier and injured three east of Kabul.