KABUL, Jan 2: A US soldier and an Afghan citizen were killed early Sunday in a gun battle in western Afghanistan's Shind and district near the city of Herat, a US military spokesman said.

"One US soldier and one Afghan citizen were killed in an exchange of fire in Shindand when US soldiers were searching a compound," Major Mark McCann said. It is unclear whether the deaths were the result of a Taliban attack or due to factional clashes in the district which was the scene of fierce battles between rival warlords in August and September last year.

"No further details are available at this time," McCann said. -AFP