CBC NEWS Sun, 15 Jan 2006 08:18:44 EST
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/01/15/afghan-deaths060115.html
One Canadian was killed and three others were wounded after a suicide car bomber struck their military convoy in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Sunday.
Prime Minister Paul Martin confirmed the fatalities and injuries involving the four Canadians during a campaign stop in Laval, Que. But he said no names were being released at this time because the families have not yet been notified.
"I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families of the dead soldier," Martin said. "To the families of the injured soldiers, I want to send my best wishes for a prompt recovery and my prayers."
The blast also killed two Afghan civilians and injured at least 10 others, media reports said.
The bomb was strong enough to blow the armoured vehicle carrying the soldiers off the side of the road, said Tom Coglan a British freelance reporter for the Daily Telegraph.
Here's CNN's Coverage so far
Blast hits Canadian troops in Afghanistan
Sunday, January 15, 2006; Posted: 7:20 a.m. EST (12:20 GMT)
CNN) -- An explosion hit a Canadian military patrol in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on Sunday, killing two civilians and wounding 13 people, including three Canadian soldiers, military and local officials said.
The Canadian unit was on a security and presence patrol when the explosion occurred about 1:30 p.m. (4 a.m. ET), said Col. Jim Yontz, spokesman for Combined Forces Command Alpha.
Yontz said the blast was a suspected homemade bomb. Local officials and police blamed a suicide car bomb for the explosion, news agencies reported.
Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Dad Mohammed Rasa said at least two civilians were killed and 10 were wounded, The Associated Press reported.
Yontz said the injured Canadian soldiers, part of a provincial reconstruction team, were flown to a medical aid station in Kandahar. Yontz said he did not know the nature of the soldiers' injuries.
Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yusuf claimed responsibility in a satellite telephone call to Reuters from an undisclosed location.
"This attack is part of our jihad, and we plan to carry out more such attacks," Reuters quoted Yusuf as saying.
The soldiers were traveling in an armored Humvee at the time of the blast, Yontz said. An investigation was under way, he said.
Canada has about 650 troops in Afghanistan, nearly all in Kandahar, AP said.
