Italian soldier killed, 3 wounded in Afghan attack

Rome: An Italian soldier was killed and three others were wounded on Saturday after their armoured vehicle was attacked in western Afghanistan, the defence ministry and the military said. The vehicle was returning to the Farah base when it was attacked "by enemy elements" at 10:30 am local time, according to a statement issued by the military chiefs of staff in Rome. Italy is scaling back its involvement in the war in Afghanistan and plans to pull out its 4,000 troops, which are part of NATO`s US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), by the end of 2014. At least 53 Italian soldiers have so far died in the 11-year conflict, according to an AFP count. AFP