A BRITISH woman was among four aid workers killed yesterday in an ambush of their vehicle in Afghanistan.
A BRITISH woman was among four aid workers killed yesterday in an ambush of their vehicle in Afghanistan.
The worker, of British-Canadian descent, was gunned down along with three other International Rescue Committee (IRC) members as they travelled through Logar province to Kabul.
The IRC, which is contacting relatives of the workers, said it was suspending aid work in the country after more than 20 years. The vehicle was attacked despite being clearly marked with the IRC logo, a spokesman said.
George Rupp, president of the New York-based organisation, said: "We are stunned and profoundly saddened by this tragic loss.
"These extraordinary individuals were deeply committed to aiding the people of Afghanistan, especially the children who have seen so much strife.
"Words are inadequate to express our sympathy for the families and loved ones of the victims and our devoted team of humanitarian aid workers in Afghanistan."
The attack was carried out by five Islamic militant gunmen, who left a small village area and fired at the IRC vehicle on the main road.
The British woman died along with two other women workers, a Canadian and a Trinidadian-American, the charity said. The fourth casualty was their Afghan driver.
The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying the target was two vehicles of "the foreign invader forces" and accusing the women of spying.
Meanwhile, two Afghan civilians were injured yesterday when British soldiers opened fire on a car that failed to stop at a checkpoint.
The troops, from 5th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, fired a single warning shot at the vehicle after it swerved out and drove towards the barrier.
However, the bullet ricocheted off the car, injuring the driver and a civilian passing by, a spokesman for UK forces in Afghanistan said. Both the wounded were treated at the scene then taken to hospital.
The incident took place south of Lashkar Gah, in southern Helmand province.
The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said such events could be avoided if the public followed instructions to keep a safe distance from convoys. It said the incident was being investigated and extended sympathies to the injured and their families.
The Ministry of Defence, meanwhile, will today name a British soldier who died when a suicide bomber rammed a car into his convoy.
The attack on the outskirts of the capital on Monday also wounded two other soldiers from 16 Signal Regiment.
Three civilians were killed and 12 injured, officials said.
An MoD spokeswoman said the suicide attacker detonated an explosive device after ramming his car into a convoy of armoured vehicles.
Last week, Defence Secretary Des Browne acknowledged progress in Afghanistan had come at a "high price".
He accepted the military was being stretched by operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan, but said the force in Afghanistan was capable of doing the job asked of it.
In neighbouring Pakistan, officials said a missile strike killed at least nine suspected insurgents in a tribal region, amid suspicion the US was again targeting militants in the country.
The US military denied it was behind Tuesday's strikes in South Waziristan. However, past strikes are believed to have been conducted by the CIA using Predator drones.
Pakistan says such raids violate its sovereignty.
