Soldier held after Kabul shooting

Security forces maintain a strong presence around Kabul

An Afghan soldier has been arrested in the capital Kabul after international peacekeepers were fired upon.

Two Norwegian soldiers with the International Security Force (Isaf) were shot and wounded in the attack.

The assault took place in the northern part of the city when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a patrol, according to officials.

A soldier with the 8th Afghan army division - believed to be a former member of the Taleban - has been held in connection with the shooting.

One of the soldiers is reported to have been seriously wounded in the incident and both men are recovering in hospital.

They were travelling on the main road between Kabul and nearby Bagram airport shortly after midday when the attackers opened fire on their vehicle.

Security

Isaf forces number about 4,500 and are drawn from more than 20 countries. Germany is currently in joint command with the Netherlands.

Isaf forces were deployed to maintain security in the Afghan capital after the fall of the ruling Taleban in 2001.

In March, two US Special Forces soldiers were killed and one wounded when their convoy was ambushed in south-west Afghanistan.

US soldiers are in the region fighting alongside about 1,000 Afghan soldiers to flush out a group of suspected Taleban fighters, believed to number about 100.

In recent months there have been reports that the Taleban is regrouping, or at least becoming more active.