An Italian soldier was killed in western Afghanistan on Friday, bringing to 35 the number of Italian soldiers killed since 2004. The soldier had been guarding a watchtower when he was hit by a sniper, Italy's defence minister Ignazio La Russa told Adnkronos.

Gulistan, 31 Dec. (AKI) - An Italian soldier was killed in western Afghanistan on Friday, bringing to 35 the number of Italian soldiers killed since 2004. The soldier had been guarding a watchtower when he was hit by a sniper, Italy's defence minister Ignazio La Russa told Adnkronos.

The deadly incident took place in the western Afghan district of Gulistan, in an area called Box Tripoli which Italy took over from US forces earlier in 2010.

La Russa, president Giorgio Napolitano and foreign minister expressed regret over the soldier's death.

"Too many of our soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan," said La Russa

He said he planned to pay a vist to troops in Afghanistan immediately after the soldier's funeral.

Napolitano said he was "profoundly saddened" to learn of the death of an Italian soldier "engaged in an international mission to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan."

Frattini expressed his condolances over the soldier's "tragic" death, which he said was made harder for the family by its occurrence over the Christmas period.

“What happened today was the latest, very high price paid by our soldiers in their praiseworthy fight against international terrorism to guarantee peace and security to Italy," said Frattini in a statement.

US Commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus recently praised the "notable success" Italian forces have had since assuming command there.

A total of 13 Italian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan this year. The deaths of four soldiers in October prompted fresh calls from some opposition politicians for a pull-out of the approximately 3,500 Italian soldiers currently deployed in the war-torn country.

Italy is due to increase its troop strength to 4,000, in line with US president Barack Obama's plan to send an extra 30,000 soldiers to Afghanistan. Many of the extra soldiers will be trainers.

Frattini has said Italy will gradually start pulling its troops out of Afghanistan in the first few months of 2011, aiming to withdraw all troops by 2014.

Frattini and other government ministers have said the withdrawal will be carried out "at the right time" and in coordination with NATO allies.

More Italian troops are being subjected to insurgent attacks as militants are driven out of southern Afghanistan and surveys show many Italians feel the mission is no longer the peacekeeping one mandated by parliament.

There are nearly 150,000 international troops now in Afghanistan. The coalition intends to hand over primary responsibility for security to Afghan national forces by 2014.