Kabul - One NATO soldier was killed and four others were wounded in a firefight with insurgents in southern Afghanistan, the military said on Monday.

The soldiers came across the militants while they were patrolling in the region on Sunday, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement.

The injured ISAF soldiers were transported to a military hospital to receive treatment, said the statement, but it did not identify their nationalities or say where in southern Afghanistan the incident took place.

The majority of the ISAF troops deployed in southern regions are US, Canadian, Dutch and British soldiers.

"These brave soldiers were trying to help bring peace and security to Afghanistan." Brigadier General Carlos Branco, ISAF spokesperson, was quoted in the statement as saying. (dpa)