Afghan crash kills Canadian soldier, injures seven

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) – A Canadian soldier was
killed and seven injured when their vehicle overturned in
southern Afghanistan on Thursday, officials said.

The incident happened on a road leading west from the city
of Kandahar. Police said a Canadian jeep hit the back of a car
that had slowed down and both vehicles tumbled off the embanked
highway.

Two of the injured soldiers were in critical condition, a
statement from the U.S.-led military force in Afghanistan said,
adding that the cause of the incident was under investigation.

Police said two Afghan civilians were also hurt.

Canada has 2,300 troops based in Kandahar, an area troubled
by Taliban insurgents.

In neighboring Helmand province on Wednesday, Taliban
guerillas ambushed an Afghan army convoy, killing one soldier
and wounding two in Girishk district, provincial army commander
General Rahmatullah Raufi told Reuters.