9 NATO troops killed in weekend fighting

At least six NATO troops were killed in Afghanistan Saturday, and three more died on Sunday -- a bloody start to August after a record number of troops were killed in July.

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Sunday's three dead were Americans killed in the eastern part of the nation by improvised explosives and small arms fire in battle, according to a spokeswoman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force.Two ISAF soldiers died in an explosion in Kandahar province Saturday, she added. Their nationalities have not yet been released, but next of kin have been informed, NATO said.Three Americans were killed by explosives in Kandahar province the same day, and a French soldier was killed in battle in Kapisa province."Yesterday was a very tough day for ISAF," said Brigadier-General Eric Tremblay, an ISAF spokesperson.At least 75 NATO troops died in Afghanistan in July, and the total number of British dead in Afghanistan topped the United Kingdom death toll in Iraq.