3 Australian soldiers and interpreter killed in Afghanistan; 7 others wounded

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3 Australian soldiers and interpreter killed in Afghanistan; 7 others wounded

By Gelineau, The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – 5 hours ago

SYDNEY - Three Australian soldiers and an Afghan interpreter were killed and

seven other soldiers were wounded when a man wearing an Afghan army uniform

opened fire during a parade at a patrol base in Afghanistan, officials said

Sunday.

The gunman in Saturday's attack was shot dead by Australian soldiers at the base

in southern Kandahar province, Australian Defence Force chief Lt. Gen.

Hurley told reporters in the western Australian city of Perth. Of the seven

wounded Australian soldiers, one was being treated for life-threatening injuries

and four others for serious injuries, Hurley said.

" Given the nature of this attack, there will be a natural response to question

our role in mentoring the Afghan national army, " Hurley said. " However, we must

be careful not to jump to conclusions. An extensive investigation is commencing

so that we can develop an accurate understanding of the circumstances of this

incident. "

Hurley said the gunman's motive was not yet known. Afghan soldiers at the base

were disarmed and confined to their barracks as a precaution as officials

investigated the shooting.

Australia has 1,550 troops in Afghanistan, the largest force provided by any

country outside NATO. Saturday's attacks brought the Australian death toll from

the conflict to 32.

The shooting came the same day a Taliban suicide bomber rammed an

explosives-laden vehicle into an armoured NATO bus in Kabul, killing 17 people

" Whether the two are related, time will tell, " Australian Defence Minister

said. " There's nothing obvious that would draw that conclusion. "

insisted that Australia's role in Afghanistan remained vital and said

Afghanistan was still on track to take over its own security by 2014 — the year

Australia plans to withdraw its troops from the country.

" If we were to leave now, the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area would again

become a breeding ground for international terrorism, " he said.

Australian Prime Minister Gillard said the shooting marked a dark day for

the nation.

" I don't know a better word than the word 'bitter' to describe how we feel

today, " Gillard told reporters in Perth. " I recognize the circumstances of this

incident are going to raise many deep and troubling questions in the minds of

Australians. Attacks like this are designed to do just that — to corrode trust. "

Gillard repeated 's assertion that the incident would not change

Australia's mission in Afghanistan.

" Our partners in the Afghan national army are shocked and horrified by what has

occurred. The people of Afghanistan are trying to build a nation — a nation free

of violence and free of fear, " Gillard said. " We know that the act of this

Afghanistan (army) member was not in the interests of the people of

Afghanistan. "