Wikileaks - CCCLXI
68688 6/20/2006 11:09 06BUCHAREST1011 Embassy Bucharest UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 06BUCHAREST704 VZCZCXRO4565 OO RUEHAST DE RUEHBM #1011 1711109 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 201109Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4683 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0066 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0024 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC UNCLAS BUCHAREST 001011
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE SIPDIS
STATE DEPT FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH
E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV, PREL, MOPS, MARR, AF, IZ, RO SUBJECT: ROMANIAN SOLDIER KIA IN AFGHANISTAN; FOUR ROMANIANS, ONE AFGHAN WOUNDED
REF: BUCHAREST 704
1. (SBU) Romanian Defense Ministry (MOD) sources confirm that a Romanian soldier was killed in action and four Romanian soldiers and an Afghan interpreter were wounded in Afghanistan June 20 at approximately 0300 local time. MOD sources advise that one of the wounded Romanian soldiers is in critical condition and that two of the Romanian soldiers lost legs in the incident. According to preliminary reports, a Romanian patrol was 20 kilometers from Kandahar returning to base when the lead vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED). The MOD is withholding names of the WIA pending notification of the next of kin, but an MOD press release confirms the dead soldier was Corporal Ionel Gheorghita Dragusanu.
2. (SBU) The Ambassador will issue a statement of condolences June 20. So far, media reaction has been limited to a report of the incident, without editorial commentary. Romania's last combat fatality was in Iraq in April (Ref). TAUBMAN
