Posted on 01/15/2006 5:09:51 AM PST by Clive
KABUL, Afghanistan (CP) - A car driven by an apparent suicide car bomber swerved into a Canadian military convoy and exploded Sunday in the southern city of Kandahar, witnesses said. Three coalition soldiers were wounded in the attack that also killed two civilians and injured 10, according to officials.
Shopkeeper Rahim Gul, who saw the incident, said a sedan vehicle blew up as it was passing the convoy.
"The explosion was so big: it destroyed one jeep and blew it totally to the other side of the road," he said, adding he saw three soldiers among the casualties.
U.S. military spokesman Lieut. Mike Cody confirmed there were three coalition soldiers wounded in the attack but declined to disclose their nationality.
CTV News quoted a witness saying he saw three Canadian soldiers loaded onto stretchers and taken to an airbase hospital. The witness said a taxi swerved into the convoy and blew up.
The blast occurred as the convoy was moving near the Canadian base in Kandahar, a former Taliban stronghold, said Dad Mohammed Rasa, an Interior Ministry spokesman.
Rasa said at least two civilians were killed and 10 wounded, and an unspecified number of Canadian troops were hurt.
Calls to the Canadian Forces in Kandahar and the Department of National Defence in Ottawa were not immediately returned in the first few hours after the incident.
Canada has about about 650 troops in Afghanistan, nearly all in Kandahar. Ottawa plans to increase the Canadian military presence in Kandahar to 2,000 next month. Canadian commanders have spoken about the dangers the troops face in the volatile southern region of Afghanistan and warned the public to expect casualties.
The blast is the latest in a string of suicide attacks that represent a new and disturbing security threat in Afghanistan, four years after the Taliban was ousted for hosting Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaida leader believed to be the mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
Violence across southern and eastern Afghanistan spiked last year, leaving about 1,600 people dead, the most since 2001.
The fighting normally eases during the winter months, when snow blankets the region, but the past few weeks have seen a string of suicide attacks and other assaults.
Why is the CP reporting from Kabul when the bulk of our deployment is in Kandahar?
Duh
Updated Sun, 15 Jan 2006 08:18:44 EST
CBC News
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 attack took place around 1 p.m. local time, just inside the city limits. A sedan type vehicle swerved into the convoy and exploded, witnesses said.
The bomb was strong enough to blow the armoured vehicle carrying the soldiers off the side of the road, said Tom Coghlan, a British freelance reporter for the Daily Telegraph.
The injured were airlifted from the scene to the main U.S. air base in Kandahar, he said.
This was the 15th suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan in the past three months.
Canada has about 650 troops in Afghanistan, nearly all in Kandahar. There are plans to increase that number to 2,000 soldiers next month.
Probably because the CP can operate in Kabul. They wouldn't last long in Kandahar City and apparently they don't get much support from the CF and US at KAF.
Another ramp ceremony. Rest in peace, brother.
I don't think that is a valid comparison to any suicide attack taking place today . The American ships at least had the opportunity to shoot back.
Unless the Japanese planes were disguised as Toyota pickups on their way to market on a Saturday morning.
I would refer you to post #3.
Prayers for our brave soldiers.
Canada Ping!
Please FReepmail me to get on or off this Canada ping list.
9th Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan ... RIP
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