Afghan bomb kills six Canadian soldiers

[jock4419]

Afghan bomb kills six Canadian soldiers
Wed Jul 4, 2007 7:15PM BST
 KABUL (Reuters) - Six Canadian soldiers were killed in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday when their armored vehicle hit a roadside bomb, the Canadian government said, in what was the deadliest attack on NATO forces this month in the country.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest since April, when six Canadian soldiers were killed in a similar incident. It brings the total number of foreign troops killed in action in Afghanistan to more than 70 this year.

Afghanistan is going through one of its bloodiest phases of violence since U.S.-led troops overthrew the Taliban's radical Islamic government in 2001. The Taliban are strongest in southern Afghanistan.

 Ottawa said the six men and a local Afghan interpreter died when their armoured vehicle hit the device in the Panjwai district about 20 km (13 miles) southwest of the southern city of Kandahar, which is home to Canada's 2,600-strong mission.

"Clearly, they have managed to kill six great young Canadians today, which is an absolute tragedy," Canadian Brigadier-General Tim Grant told a televised news conference in Kandahar.

So far 66 Canadian soldiers and a diplomat have died since Ottawa sent troops to Afghanistan in late 2002 as part of the U.S.-led war on terror.

The Taliban rely largely on suicide attacks and roadside bomb blasts in their campaign against foreign troops and the government.

The blast occurred on a gravel road as the troops were returning in a convoy of 12 vehicles from a joint operation with the Afghan national army.

"As with every attack we will look at what has happened and will decide at that time if there is something we need to do to increase the protection for our soldiers," said Grant, adding that Canadian troops were comfortable in the Panjwai district.
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R.I.P. Soldiers.
                     Thoughts are with your family and comrades

[kiwi]

Rest in Peace and my you never be forgotten.

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Rest Easy Lads

We won't let you down.