KABUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- A US soldier was killed Saturday when Afghan and US troops came under attack by militants in Afghan eastern province of Paktika, US military said.

    "A US soldier was killed today when an Afghan and US patrol in which he was part of was fired upon by enemy fighters north of Lwara along the Pakistan border in eastern Afghanistan," it said in a press release.

    "The soldier was initially wounded during the operation and was evacuated to Forward Operating Base Salerno for treatment but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving there," it added.

    Coalition forces were conducting security operations when a patrol came under fire from militants forces with small-arms and rocket-propelled grenades.

    Coalition forces responded with small-arms fire, artillery support and close-air support causing the enemy to flee the area. Battle damage assessment is being conducted, it said.

    About 20,000 US-led Coalition troops stayed in Afghanistan after the collapse of Taliban regime in late 2001, for the further cleanup of Taliban remains.

    Remnants of the former fundamentalist regime who failed to derail the landmark September 18 legislative polls have intensified their activities since holding benchmark legislative polls last month.

    About 1,500 persons with the majority of them Taliban militants have been killed in Taliban-linked militancy since the beginning of this year, and the death toll of US troops has been over 50. Enditem