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Four Canadians killed in Afghan suicide bombing
18/09/2006 9:36:37 AM
Four Canadian soldiers were killed and many more wounded in an explosion which targeted troops in southern Afghanistan Monday, the military has confirmed.
CTV.ca News Staff
"An individual on a bicycle detonated himself near the Canadian soldiers," Brig.-Gen. David Fraser told reporters.
Fraser refused to disclose the number of wounded, but said none of their injuries were life threatening. Next of kin are still being notified and Fraser did not disclose the identity of the deceased soldiers.
The Canadians were providing patrol and assisting the return of people to their homes in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province.
Earlier reports from NATO officials said the attack took place as the soldiers were handing out candy and notebooks to children -- a detail Fraser would not confirm.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families of the soldiers who were affected today," Fraser said.
Earlier, NATO spokesman Mark Laity told CTV Newsnet that the blast injured "a number of civilians,'' but could not specify the number.
Laity told Newsnet that NATO officials were "not surprised" by the attack.
"These tactics are what we'd expect from an enemy that's been defeated," Laity said, adding that it may be "some time" before the number of civilian casualties was known.
The Associated Press reported that the Taliban had claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Monday's attack came just a day after NATO wrapped up Operation Medusa -- a two-week anti-Taliban operation in which more than 500 insurgents were reported killed.
NATO described the operation as a success Sunday, despite continuing violence in the south.
Fraser called today's "cowardly" attack a desperate attempt by the weakened Taliban to prevent the district's resident from "enjoying the safe and secure environment that we for granted back home."
"Afghan national security forces, NATO and Canadians will carry on the mission, which is to help Afghans rebuild their community following the defence against the Taliban attacks against this community," he added.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said Canadian troops will stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes to rebuild the war-torn country and establish democracy there.
"We've said all along that we're there to finish the job," MacKay told the Canadian Press in Halifax Sunday before travelling to New York for a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
"Will we be there five years? Will we be there longer?" MacKay asked " ....That remains to be seen. I would certainly defer to General Hillier as far as his assessment on the ground."
MacKay was responding to comments by Canadian Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada's chief of defence staff, who said Sunday that international forces will be needed in Afghanistan for up to five more years.
Most of Afghanistan's recent surge in violence has taken place in volatile southern provinces, where some 8,000 NATO forces took military control from the U.S.- led coalition on Aug. 1.
NATO commanders say they need another 2,500 troops plus greater air support to crush the Taliban threat more quickly.
Some 2,200 Canadians are in Kandahar province.
Thirty-two Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed since the Canadian mission to the country began in 2002.
From the AP
18/09/2006 9:36:37 AM
Four Canadian soldiers were killed and many more wounded in an explosion which targeted troops in southern Afghanistan Monday, the military has confirmed.
CTV.ca News Staff
"An individual on a bicycle detonated himself near the Canadian soldiers," Brig.-Gen. David Fraser told reporters.
Fraser refused to disclose the number of wounded, but said none of their injuries were life threatening. Next of kin are still being notified and Fraser did not disclose the identity of the deceased soldiers.
The Canadians were providing patrol and assisting the return of people to their homes in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province.
Earlier reports from NATO officials said the attack took place as the soldiers were handing out candy and notebooks to children -- a detail Fraser would not confirm.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families of the soldiers who were affected today," Fraser said.
Earlier, NATO spokesman Mark Laity told CTV Newsnet that the blast injured "a number of civilians,'' but could not specify the number.
Laity told Newsnet that NATO officials were "not surprised" by the attack.
"These tactics are what we'd expect from an enemy that's been defeated," Laity said, adding that it may be "some time" before the number of civilian casualties was known.
The Associated Press reported that the Taliban had claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Monday's attack came just a day after NATO wrapped up Operation Medusa -- a two-week anti-Taliban operation in which more than 500 insurgents were reported killed.
NATO described the operation as a success Sunday, despite continuing violence in the south.
Fraser called today's "cowardly" attack a desperate attempt by the weakened Taliban to prevent the district's resident from "enjoying the safe and secure environment that we for granted back home."
"Afghan national security forces, NATO and Canadians will carry on the mission, which is to help Afghans rebuild their community following the defence against the Taliban attacks against this community," he added.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said Canadian troops will stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes to rebuild the war-torn country and establish democracy there.
"We've said all along that we're there to finish the job," MacKay told the Canadian Press in Halifax Sunday before travelling to New York for a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
"Will we be there five years? Will we be there longer?" MacKay asked " ....That remains to be seen. I would certainly defer to General Hillier as far as his assessment on the ground."
MacKay was responding to comments by Canadian Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada's chief of defence staff, who said Sunday that international forces will be needed in Afghanistan for up to five more years.
Most of Afghanistan's recent surge in violence has taken place in volatile southern provinces, where some 8,000 NATO forces took military control from the U.S.- led coalition on Aug. 1.
NATO commanders say they need another 2,500 troops plus greater air support to crush the Taliban threat more quickly.
Some 2,200 Canadians are in Kandahar province.
Thirty-two Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed since the Canadian mission to the country began in 2002.
From the AP
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