FED: Aussie journos injured in Afghanistan blast

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2008
FED: Aussie journos injured in Afghanistan blast

CANBERRA, April 29 AAP/AFP - Two Australian journalists have been wounded in a suicide
bombing that claimed 15 lives in eastern Afghanistan.

The blast tore through an anti-drugs meeting of officials and villagers in the small
town of Khogyani in the eastern province of Nangarhar today.

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said 15 Afghans were killed
and 14 wounded.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) tonight said two Australian journalists,
both men originally from Sydney, had been injured in the attack.

"One journalist was reported to have been medivaced to a US military hospital," a DFAT
spokeswoman said.

"And the other journalist is being treated at the scene.

"Australian consular officials in Afghanistan are in contact with the Australians and
providing consular assistance."

The men were not working for Australian media organisations, the spokeswoman said.

The ABC said the pair were believed to be freelance photographer Steve Dupoint and
Paul Rafael who were both working for an American publication.

DFAT said it hoped to have more information later tonight.

The Taliban, which was in government between 1996 and 2001, has claimed responsibility
for the attack.

AAP/AFP ag/srp/cdh

KEYWORD: AFGHAN BLAST AUST LEAD

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