CANBERRA, Australia, March 17, SPA -- The death of a ninth Australiansoldier in Afghanistan will not diminish Canberra's commitment to bringing stability to the Central Asian country, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Tuesday. The soldier in a joint Australian-Afghan army patrol wasshot dead during a «very intense firefight» with 20Taliban insurgents in Uruzgan province in southernAfghanistan Monday morning, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houstonsaid Tuesday. The soldier's name has not been released, Associated Press reported. Rudd told Parliament the «government remains committed toconfronting the ongoing threat from international terrorismand bringing greater stability to Afghanistan.»--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/645139