French soldier killed in Afghanistan

A French soldier serving with NATO forces in Afghanistan has died after coming under artillery fire from insurgents, the French presideny announced on Saturday.

The death took to 44 the number of French troops killed in Afghanistan since their deployment in January 2002.

The brigadier from the parachute regiment based in Tarbes, southwest France, and his Afghan interpreter were both injured when the armoured vehicle convoy they were travelling in came under fire.

Both were taken to hospital where the brigadier died of his injuries on Friday, the presidency said.

Most of France's 3,500 soldiers inside Afghanistan are based in Kapisa province and Surobi district, around 60 kilometres (37 miles) east and northeast of Kabul.