4 soldiers die in Afghan operation, contractor kills fifth

Four soldiers belonging to the NATO-led force in Afghanistan were killed by insurgents during an operation on Sunday, while a fifth was shot dead by a security guard over the weekend in the country's south.

The Taliban have been recovering ground in the south as forward operating bases have shut as part of the plan to withdraw most foreign troops by the end of 2014. "Four... were killed by enemy forces during a partnered operation," the release by the joint command said. (Reuters)