Spain says army bomb disposal expert dies while defusing explosive in Afghanistan

The Spanish government says an army bomb disposal expert has died in an explosion in Afghanistan.

Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said 35-year-old Sgt. David Fernandez died Friday while defusing an improvised explosive device.

The Defense Ministry said the device had been found on a road between the northwestern towns of Qala-i-Naw and Darra-i-Bun during a routine mission.

Spain has about 1,500 troops in Afghanistan's northwestern Badghis province. It has lost some 100 soldiers since deploying in 2002.