CANBERRA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government announced on Tuesday it would give an extra 5 million Aust dollars (3.2 million U.S. dollars) to clear mines and help people injured by the mines in Afghanistan.

    Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said in a statement that more than 1,500 square kilometers of land had been cleared and returned to local communities over the past 20 years.

    The government has committed 75 million Aust dollars (48 million U.S. dollars) for mine action globally from 2005 to 2010.

    Australia is a leading contributor to mine clearance, mine risk education and survivor assistance in Afghanistan.