Australasian news

Five killed in Australia's 'worst day' in Afghanistan

Australia has suffered its worst day in conflict since the Vietnam War after five soldiers were killed in two separate incidents in Afghanistan

 

Radio NZ,

31 Sepetember, 2012

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has left the Pacific Islands Forum in Rarotonga to return to Australia. Speaking to reporters before her departure, she said it was the worst loss of Australian lives in combat in decades.

"This is a very big toll, but this means that in a war of so many losses this is our single worst day in Afghanistan. I believe this is the most losses in combat since the days of the Vietnam War and the Battle of Long Tan."

The Defence Force confirmed three soldiers were killed by a man in an Afghan army uniform in "a green on blue" attack at a base in Uruzgan Province in the south of the country on Wednesday.

Two other Australian soldiers were wounded in that incident. One suffered serious gunshot wounds and has been evacuated for further treatment, while the other has minor wounds and remains at the patrol base....

5.3 quake on West Coast

Radio NZ,

31 September, 2012

A shallow 5.3-magnitude earthquake has been recorded near Haast.

GNS says the earthquake struck at 7:38 am on Friday.

It was at a depth of 5km and was centred 40km south-west of Haast.

 

There were no immediate reports of damage.