RIGA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- A first lieutenant of the Albanian armed forces died on Monday in an explosion of a wartime mine while participating in a NATO-led mission to dispose World War II explosives in Latvia, local media reported.
Latvian Chief of Defense, Lieutenant General Leonids Kalnins, said at a news conference, which was called after the deadly accident, that one of the Albanian soldiers had suffered grave injuries and was being treated in the intensive care unit of a Riga hospital. The injuries of the other Albanian serviceman are less serious, he said.
All drills at the Adazi military training grounds outside Riga have been suspended and an internal inquiry is under way to probe the circumstances of the accident, Lieutenant General Kalnins informed.
There is no clarity at the moment about the type and age of the mine that went off in Monday's accident.
"A grave incident occurred this morning in Latvia, where a mine explosion caused the death of First Lieutenant Zarife Hasanaj. Also, the Contingent Commander Klodian Tanushi and Sergeant Julian Kapaj were injured," said Albanian Chief of Defense, Brigadier General Bardhyl Kollcaku.
Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis and Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics extended condolences to the family of Firs Lieutenant Hasanaj and wished speedy recovery to the injured Albanian servicemen.
The Latvian officials said Latvia is extremely thankful to ally Albania for its contribution to the NATO mission. This is a very sad moment for all.
