Georgia loses 3 more soldiers in Afghanistan

Three more Georgian soldiers have died in Afghanistan while serving in the International Security Assistance Force, the defense ministry said Wednesday. The fatalities pushed Georgia's death toll in Afghanistan to 15. Cpls. Valiko Beraia, Ruslan Meladze and Paata Kacharava "died while they were carrying out a combat task," the ministry said in a statement. "Their combat vehicle exploded following an insurgent attack." Georgian soldiers have been deployed in Afghanistan since Aug. 6, 2009. President Mikheil Saakashvili on Wednesday sent condolences to the families of the three corporals. Saakashvili had visited Georgian troops in Afghanistan on Monday. Georgia is considering sending another infantry battalion to make the South Caucasus country the largest non-NATO troop contributor with over 1,500 soldiers in Afghanistan. An opposition party, however, plans to send a letter to NATO headquarters to appeal for the withdrawal of Georgian troops from Afghanistan. "We are addressing all political parties to sign a declaration of national agreement and demand from the military political alliance NATO to withdraw Georgian armed forces from Afghanistan," said Labor Party political secretary Giorgi Gugava.