Kunduz, Afghanistan - German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung said Wednesday the security situation in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz had stabilized after three German soldiers were killed there last year, but he got mixed reviews when meeting with tribal leaders there.

Although just before his visit to the German army's headquarters in Kunduz, three rockets hit outside the camp, inuring no one but damaging a gate, some of the tribal leaders said they had seen security improvements.

Kunduz, Afghanistan - With German troops tense about the growing risk of Taliban attacks, German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung landed Tuesday in Afghanistan on an unannounced visit.

Jung met with a tribal leader near Kunduz and conveyed Germany's condolences over the shooting deaths of an Afghan woman and two children.

They were killed last Thursday evening when German troops at a roadblock opened fire on a car when it ignored an order to stop.

"I expressed our shock and our sympathy," said Jung after the meeting with Haji Amanullah Otmansai, a Pashtun leader.