KABUL, Afghanistan - NATO troops fought insurgents in southern Afghanistan on Saturday in a battle that left one Western soldier dead _ NATO's first fatality of the year.
NATO's International Security Assistance Force said the soldier died during an operation and that air support was used against insurgent positions.
The nationality of the soldier was not released. NATO refused to release any other details until the next of kin were notified.
Most of Canada's troops in Afghanistan operate in the south, but Canadian military officials in Kandahar said the dead soldier was not a Canadian.
Taliban militants stepped up attacks last year, and insurgent-related violence killed some 4,000 people in the bloodiest year since the US-led coalition ousted the Taliban in late 2001.
