Four Afghans Killed, Americans Hurt in Arms Blast

[Eye and Monkey]

By REUTERS
Published: March 24, 2004
Filed at 1:07 a.m. ET

KABUL (Reuters) - Munitions being used in an Afghan army training exercise exploded accidentally, killing four Afghan soldiers and wounding nine people, four Americans among them, a U.S. military spokesman said Wednesday.

The accident happened near the town of Gardez in southeastern Afghanistan while the soldiers were taking part in a munitions demolition training exercise Tuesday afternoon, said Lieutenant-Colonel Bryan Hilferty.

``Four Afghan National Army soldiers were killed and five wounded; there were four Americans wounded,'' he said.``There was an accidental explosion, we believe a lithium battery exploded and set off a chain reaction.''

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-afghan-explosion.html