Ninth Aussie soldier killed in Afghanistan

CANBERRA - An Australian soldier has been shot dead in a firefight with Taleban insurgents, becoming the ninth digger and the first member of a new training team to die in Afghanistan.

The soldier was a member of a combined Australian and Afghan National Army foot patrol near the village of Kakarak, 12 km north of the Australian base at Tarin Kowt.

On Monday afternoon Australian time a group of some 20 insurgents opened fire with smallarms and rocket-propelled grenades, Defence head Angus Houston said.

"The patrol returned fire and, sadly, an Australian soldier was killed as a consequence of this engagement," he said.

The soldier was evacuated by helicopter but declared dead on arrival at the coalition hospital at Tarin Kowt.

No other Australian soldiers were hurt.

Taleban casualties are unknown, but they could be substantial as a pair of Apache helicopter gunships were summoned to attack enemy positions during the protracted fighting.

Air Chief Marshal Houston said the soldier's name and other personal details had been withheld at the request of his family.

The soldier was a member of the 70-strong Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT - referred to as an omelet), itself part of the 400-member Mentor and Reconstruction Task Force, mainly drawn from the Darwin-based 7th Battalion (7RAR).

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said a fine and courageous soldier had died in Afghanistan and the nation mourned his death.

"Those who chose to wear that uniform served to protect and defend our nation, some on foreign soil in some of the harshest environments on earth," he told parliament.

"They face daunting challenges every day and today we are again reminded that some who wear the uniform of Australia make the ultimate sacrifice."

Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull said the nation was immensely proud of the men and women of the defence force for their service and sacrifice.

"In Afghanistan they are fighting in defence of our values of liberty and democracy, wearing our uniform, serving under our flag against the world's most dangerous and treacherous enemy.

"All Australians are indebted for this the greatest of sacrifices in our name," he said.

The OMLT was formed last year to train the Afghan military, with members participating in operations alongside their trainees, the first time Australian troops have done this since the Vietnam War.

The Australia Defence Association says the added danger of mentoring foreign troops came from the requirement to accompany them into battle.

"You do this so you can validate the training and so you can provide some tactical stiffening so you can better measure their leadership and also to give you some credibility as a trainer," executive director Neil James said.

Mr James said the additional risks were demonstrated by the experience from Vietnam.

"You only have to look at the historical parallels. The Australian Army Training Team (AATTV) in Vietnam was the most highly decorated unit in Australian military history," he said.

The AATTV never numbered more than 200 at any time but team members won four Victoria Crosses. Thirty-three died, many while fighting alongside South Vietnamese soldiers.

- AAP