French Defense Ministry announced this year's first death of French troops in Afghanistan on Tuesday, which brought French toll in the war-zone to 40 since 2001.
The soldier was killed when escorting the Afghan Army through the Alasay Valley, north-east of the capital Kabul, and another team member, also a French soldier, was seriously hurt, the ministry said in a statement, Xinhua reported.
According to the statement, Taliban rebels were the suspected attackers and the severely injured French serviceman has been urgently brought back to France for treatment.
French high-ranking politicians, including President Nicolas Sarkozy, Prime Minister Francois Fillon and President of National Assembly Bernard Accoyer, all expressed sympathy and condolence to the victims and their families.
France has some 3,750 troops deployed in and nearby Afghanistan, some for combat missions and others committed to training tasks.
40th French soldier dies in Afghanistan
French Defense Ministry announced this year's first death of French troops in Afghanistan on Tuesday, which brought French toll in the war-zone to 40 since 2001.
