SYDNEY: An Australian soldier was killed while on foot patrol in restive southern Afghanistan, Australia`s defence minister said Saturday -- taking the death toll among the nation`s troops to 17.

The 23-year-old died and another soldier was wounded after they hit an improvised explosive device in Uruzgan province`s Chora Valley shortly after midnight local time (1400 GMT) Defence Minister John Faulkner said.

An experienced serviceman on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan, the soldier was rushed to the base hospital at Tarin Kowt but was pronounced dead on arrival, Faulkner said.

"Australia has now lost 17 of our finest soldiers in Afghanistan," he said.

Six Australian soldiers have died in the conflict in a little over a month, including three commandos killed in a June helicopter crash, while 143 have been injured since 2001.

"I have obviously acknowledged that the progress is not as fast as some would like to see", Faulkner said.

"But there has been a change in momentum in Afghanistan."

Australia has about 1,550 troops in Uruzgan province, after last year sending 450 reinforcements, but has resisted calls from Washington to provide more.


BDST:0921 HRS , July 10, 2010