The first Czech soldier to fall in Afghanistan has been identified. Staff Sergeant Nikolaj Martynov, 28, was involved in a vehicle accident south east of Fajzabad. After initial treatment he was evacuated to the military hospital in Prague, where he lost his fight on May 3, 2007.

Four other soldiers were slightly injured when the four vehicle patrol from the 43rd Airborne Mechanized BN, 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade, were involved in a landslide due to torrential rain.

The Czech Republic recently deployed a military contingent to Afghanistan in a effort to help the International Security Assistance Force. There are currently 83 Czech soldiers operating out of Fajzabad, along with Germans and Danes, to ensure security and stability in Badakhshan province.

MOD -- It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic must confirm the death of a Czech soldier - member of PRT Logar, Afghanistan - on Wednesday 30 April, 2008.

28-year-old Radim Vaculik died after an improvised explosive device burst up under the HMMWV vehicle used by the Czech contingent serving at the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Logar, Afghanistan.

Four other Czech soldiers were injured, one of them seriously. All soldiers were transported to the American Field Hospital at Bagram, north of Kabul, Afghanistan, for immediate treatment.

Prague Daily Monitor -- President Vaclav Klaus Tuesday offered condolences to the widow of the late warrant officer Milan Sterba. Klaus was also the first public official to release his name.

Klaus appreciated Sterba's personal courage.

"By participating in a number of demanding foreign missions, your husband has proved not only personal courage, but also that the words like patriotism, solidarity, honour and allegiance to the military oath were no empty cliches for him," Klaus wrote to the soldier's wife.

Deputies observed a minute's silence in memory of the dead soldier at the beginning of their session Tuesday. A black flag is flying on the Chamber of Deputies premises.