Albanian soldier injured in Iraq

TIRANA, Oct. 13 – An Albanian soldier in Iraq was injured by a grenade, according to the Defense Ministry. Edvin Korra, 20, was slightly injured in the leg and abdomen when a grenade was thrown near Albanian troops on Thursday evening at the international military base Diamond Back near Mosul airport, according to unit commander Major Ali Mali. The grenade was thrown from outside the territory of the base and was believed to have been used by “members of extremist Iraqi groupings,” according to the major. The soldier was in good health after surgery. Korra is a resident of Cekrez village, Tirana district. Maj. Mali said the moral and psychological situation of the unit was high. Albania has 120 soldiers serving in Iraq under U.S.-led command in a non-combat role, mainly patrolling the airport in the Iraqi city of Mosul. (Tirana Times Staff)