Germany says three of its soldiers were killed and five severely wounded in heavy fighting with Taliban insurgents today in northern Afghanistan.
The German military said the detachment was patrolling near Chahar Dara, southwest of the city of Konduz, when it was attacked by militants.
District government chief Abdul Wahid Omar Khil estimated there were about 200 Taliban fighters involved in the attack.
The deaths brought to 39 the German death toll in Afghanistan since Berlin sent troops to the country in 2002 in a move that remains unpopular with the German public.
compiled from agency reports
The German military said the detachment was patrolling near Chahar Dara, southwest of the city of Konduz, when it was attacked by militants.
District government chief Abdul Wahid Omar Khil estimated there were about 200 Taliban fighters involved in the attack.
The deaths brought to 39 the German death toll in Afghanistan since Berlin sent troops to the country in 2002 in a move that remains unpopular with the German public.
compiled from agency reports