Australian soldier dies in Afghanistan attack

Updated July 9, 2008 14:13:24

An Australian soldier killed yesterday in a roadside bomb attack was on his second tour of Afghanistan. [File]

The head of Australia's Defence Force says there'll be an even stronger attempt to stop the Taliban making home-made bombs after another Australian soldier was killed in Afghanistan.

Signaller Sean McCarthy, from the Special Air Service in Western Australia, had been in Afghanistan less than a month when his patrol struck a roadside bomb in Oruzgan province on Tuesday.

Two other Australian soldiers are in a stable but serious condition.

Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston says it shows the need to stop the bombmakers.

"For more and more active operations against the people who produce these dreadful weapons," he said.

Australian Opposition's politician, Nick Minchin, backs the crackdown and sends his sympathy to Sean McCarthy's family.

"We pray for the speedy recovery of the two other Australian injured," Mr Minchin said.

'Difficult, dangerous' work

Six Australians have been killed in Afghanistan since Australian forces joined the Coalition troops in 2001.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd warns there might be more.

"This is a difficult, dangerous and bloody operating environment," he said.

Signaller McCarthy was 25, he'd been in the army for seven years.

He was on his second tour of Afghanistan and had been in the country for less than a month.

He was born in New Zealand and joined the army in July 2001.

The SOTG contains commandos, members of the SAS, and support personnel.