Wounded Australian soldiers making good recovery in Afghanistan: DM

Two Australian soldiers seriously hurt in a bomb blast in Afghanistan is making good recovery, Defense Minister Stephen Smith said on Wednesday.

In the latest Afghanistan fatality on Monday, Sergeant Brett Wood, 32, was killed in the explosion of an insurgent improvised explosive device, while two other Australian soldiers were seriously wounded.

"I am very pleased to be able to indicate that the latest advice I have this morning is that the two who were seriously injured are now in a satisfactory condition, "Smith told ABC television on Wednesday.

"They are both in an International Security Assistance Force medical facility in Afghanistan and so we are now confident that they will make a full recovery."

In a separate incident, another three Australian soldiers on Monday morning were hurt in a gunfight with insurgents in Afghanistan. They are being treated in Tarin Kowt.

Smith said these three soldiers were all in a satisfactory condition.

Wood was Australia's 24th soldier lost in a decade of involvement in Afghanistan, and the third so far this year.

Referring to the loss of Sergeant Wood, Smith said any death was terrible tragedy for the family and a blow to the nation.

But he reaffirmed Australia's commitment to stay the distance in Afghanistan, saying that progress had been made in the past 12 months in Afghanistan and gains made over the winter months had been consolidated.

Source: Xinhua

	Weekly review     May 20   World Economic Forum China office marks fifth anniversary   May 18   China, Pakistan joined in bonds of brotherhood May 20   'Central axis' of Beijing applies for world cultural heritage May 20   In pictures: Int'l 'Financial Security' symposium opens in Beijing May 21   The week in pictures May 16   Beijing aims for massive influx of overseas talent in 2011 May 16   Singapore election coverage shows Western arrogance May 16   Chinese naval helicopter conducts target practice in Gulf of Aden May 17   Strategies for harmony between militaries of China, US May 17   Pakistani Prime Minister hails China as true friend