NZers destroy Afghan weapons caches

Members of New Zealand's provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan have destroyed more weapons caches from their most recent seizures.

The caches were reported as part of a rewards programme that pays individuals for information.

The provincial reconstruction contingent's Kiwi Team 2 was reported in March to have recovered a big cache including 18 rocket propelled grenades, nine 107mm rockets, 112 grenade fuses and various mortars and grenades. The New Zealanders also seized other small arms, ammunition, and equipment.

Today, the combined joint taskforce published photos of the New Zealanders with further weapons seized on May 29 in a remote location near Forward Operating Base Romero, in Bamyan province, and a big explosion as the weapons were blown up.

The American army commander of Taskforce Wolverine, Colonel Will Roy, said that the rewards programme funded by the US Department of Defence was an invaluable tool.

"It provides an additional incentive for Afghan civilians to work as partners with coalition forces to help defeat threats to the citizens of Afghanistan," he said.

The New Zealanders destroyed a total of 84 anti-tank projectiles, six 82mm rockets, 22 recoilless rifles, 56 mortars, 415 40mm grenade launcher projectiles, 268 hand grenades, 300 fuses and 12 anti-personnel mines, as well as other explosives and weapons taken over a period of six weeks.

- NZPA