Published: December 4, 2008

COPENHAGEN, Denmark: Two soldiers have been killed in an attack in southern Afghanistan, the Danish army said Thursday

The Army Operational Command said a Danish-British patrol came under attack Thursday in the southern district of Gereshk.

One soldier was fatally wounded when his vehicle was hit by a bomb. The patrol came under fire shortly afterward.

The army says a second soldier was killed immediately by another explosion when Danish and British troops rushed to help their wounded colleague.

The wounded soldier died in a helicopter that was bringing him back to Denmark's Camp Bastion, Maj. Gen. Poul Kiaerskou, head of the Army Operational Command, said in a statement."Our soldiers are in Afghanistan to create security and stability," Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said. "They carry out a priceless and prime effort in extremely difficult conditions which we appreciated and are proud of."

The army didn't release the victims' name or ranks, but said both were members of the Jutland Dragoon Regiment.

The attack came a day after Crown Prince Frederik ended an unannounced three-day visit to Danish troops in Helmand.

Denmark has about 700 troops serving in the NATO force in Afghanistan. Most of them are based in the volatile southern Helmand province.

Eighteen Danish soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since Denmark joined the U.S.-led coalition in 2002.