SIX AMERICAN TROOPS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN

Kabul, Afghanistan - Six American soldiers were killed in a 48-hour period ending Sunday, their deaths coming on the heels of the most lethal month for U.S. and Western troops since the start of the war nearly eight years ago, military officials said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan-deaths3-2009aug03,0,3594308.story

Three other Western troops also died over the weekend, according to NATO's International Security Assistance Force. One of them was identified as a French soldier killed Saturday in a firefight outside Kabul, the capital; the other two were Canadians killed in the south.

The increase in combat casualties comes as NATO troops are engaged in a push to ensure that Afghanistan's presidential election can be held in reasonable safety. Voters will also choose provincial assemblies in the nationwide balloting scheduled for Aug. 20. Kabul, Afghanistan - Six American soldiers were killed in a 48-hour period ending Sunday, their deaths coming on the heels of the most lethal month for U.S. and Western troops since the start of the war nearly eight years ago, military officials said.

Three other Western troops also died over the weekend, according to NATO's International Security Assistance Force. One of them was identified as a French soldier killed Saturday in a firefight outside Kabul, the capital; the other two were Canadians killed in the south.

The increase in combat casualties comes as NATO troops are engaged in a push to ensure that Afghanistan's presidential election can be held in reasonable safety. Voters will also choose provincial assemblies in the nationwide balloting scheduled for Aug. 20.