BBC News Online: World: South Asia

Swedish journalist killed in Afghanistan

Journalists leave Taloqan after Mr Stroemberg's death

A Swedish television cameraman has become the eighth foreign journalist to be killed in Afghanistan since the start of the US bombing campaign.

Ulf Stroemberg, aged 42, was shot dead overnight in the house he was staying at in Taloqan near the northern city of Kunduz.

According to reports from Taloqan, Mr Stroemberg woke around 2am local time to heavy knocking at the door.

He opened it to see a group of armed men, and closed the door in an attempt to shut them out.

Robbery motive

But the gunmen fired through the door hitting him at least once in the chest.

It's believed the gunmen were hoping to rob the television crew of their satellite equipment and money.

The incident came a day after the Northern Alliance troops entered the northern city of Kunduz.

The troops were greeted by local civilians jubiliant at the end of the siege but also angry at the Taleban occupiers.

Security fears

There were reports of Taleban fighters being beaten and killed by locals but the city is now set to be securely in the hands of the alliance troops.

The fighting is not yet over and its commander say the Taleban who slipped through the siege had re-established a new front line south of the city.

The cameraman's killing has raised security fears among the remaining journalists in the region covering the siege of Kunduz.

Most were planning to leave Taloqan in a convoy later on Tuesday.