Vitalijs Vasilevs and Gints Bleija

Friday, December 29 2006 @ 08:15 AM MST

Romandie News -- RIGA - Two Latvian soldiers were killed Wednesday in Iraq when a bomb exploded next to their passing vehicle, announced the Latvian armed forces.

They are the first Latvian soldiers killed as the result of a hostile attack in Iraq. In 2004, a Latvian soldier died while on a mineclearing operation.

Three other soldiers were wounded in the explosion of the roadside bomb when the military vehicle, a Latvian Humvee, passed in the vicinity, according to an official statement.

One of wounded was seriously injured and the two others more slightly, as indicated to an AFP spokesman from the armed forces, Uldis Davidovs. All three will be brought back to Latvia.

The explosion took place at midday near Al-Diwaniyah, the south-east of Baghdad.

The two soldiers who were killed, Vitalijs Vasilevs, 24 years, and Gints Bleija, 25 years, were about to finish their mission in Iraq.

"They were to return home in one week or two. It is what is particularly hard to accept." declared, under cover of anonymity, an officer of the Latvian military, stationed in Al-Diwaniyah since the beginning of the year.

"Hatred and fanaticism took the life of our two soldiers." Declared the Minister for defense Atis Slakteris.

"We learned this sad news after the festivals from Christmas, the moment of the year when more than in other days we think of peace, the joy and the harmony." He added.

The president of Latvia, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, expressed her condolences with the families of the soldiers and her gratitude with the troops "which carried out their mission in a professional way, guaranteeing safety with others".

In an interview with the radio, Mrs Vike-Freiberga stressed that the loss of the two soldiers did not call into question the presence of the Latvian mission to Iraq. "The death of the soldiers should not be used as reason to stop the mission." She declared.

Latvia decided two weeks ago to prolong for one year, until the end 2007, the mandate of its troops in Iraq, from which the number could however be reduced and the modified assignments.

A member of NATO since 2004, Latvia has taken part in the coalition led by Washington in Iraq since 2003 with currently 113 Latvian soldiers who are deployed there.

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