New boss takes over NATO force

Three NATO soldiers died in separate clashes as the U.S. general who commanded American land forces during the invasion of Iraq took command of the 40-nation international campaign in Afghanistan.

Army Gen. David D. McKiernan took charge of the 51,000-member International Security Assistance Force from Gen. Dan K. McNeill, who will retire from the U.S. Army after 40 years.

In the latest violence, three ISAF soldiers were killed in attacks, two of them in eastern Afghanistan, where most of the forces are American. The third died in a battle in the south. About 15 others -- insurgents and Afghan police officers -- also died in violence.