Foreign Affairs official killed in Afghanistan
CTV.ca News Staff
An official with Foreign Affairs Canada was killed and three Canadian soldiers were injured after an apparent suicide bomber swerved into a military convoy in Kandahar on Sunday.
Department of National Defence officials confirmed Sunday afternoon that Glynn Berry, political director of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar, died in the blast.
The Taliban is claiming responsibility for the attack, which also killed two Afghan civilians and injured 10 others.
Prime Minister Paul Martin confirmed the Canadian casualties during a campaign stop in Laval, Que., Sunday morning.
"There was a tragic incident near Kandahar in Afghanistan where one Canadian was killed and three others were injured," said Martin, of the victims who were part of a 250-member provincial reconstruction team.
"On behalf of all Canadians, I want to express my condolences to the family of the individual who was killed, and our prayers and best wishes to the family of the deceased, and to the families of the injured."
The blast occurred as the convoy was driving near the Canadian base in former Taliban stronghold Kandahar, said Dad Mohammed Rasa, an Interior Ministry spokesman.
CTV's Matt McClure, reporting from Kabul, said witnesses reported that a Canadian jeep was tossed across the road upside down.
"Witnesses there saw three Canadian soldiers being loaded onto an ambulance, and we understand they were transported to the Kandahar airfield," McClure told CTV Newsnet.
The apparent attack happened on a busy main road in Kandahar. At the time of the blast, a taxi stand was crowded, resulting in several deaths and many more casualties. The road has since been reopened.
"These soldiers travel this route every day, back and forth to the base, and when they do they face this risk," McClure said.
"And they are sitting ducks, and they know it."
A purported Taliban spokesman, Qari Mohammed Yousaf, called The Associated Press and claimed responsibility for the attacks.
He also warned there are many more suicide attackers "ready to go."
"We will continue this strategy until all foreign forces leave Afghanistan," he said.
There are about 685 members of the Canadian Forces working in Afghanistan, and about 450 are stationed at the Kandahar base.
Canada plans to increase its military presence in Kandahar to 2,000 next month. It is a highly volatile city, and commanders have already warned to expect casualties.
"It's clear that this is not a peacekeeping mission," Canadian Col. S.J. Bowes said in a December report from The Associated Press. Bowes will assume responsibility for Kandahar.
McClure said there have been reports in the last few weeks that al Qaeda has sent insurgents into Afghanistan from Pakistan to specifically target troops that are scheduled to take over from the Americans in certain areas in southern Afghanistan.
"The idea being to perhaps keep them on edge, to keep them from going outside of their camps, and perhaps even make them reconsider deploying their troops to this war-torn area," McClure said.
However, Martin said the mission was a worthy one.
"Our participation in the mission in Kandahar is essential for establishing peace and security in a nation that is struggling to find its way," he said Sunday.
In 2005, at least 1,600 people were killed in Afghanistan in attacks by insurgents. It was the deadliest year since 2001, when the Taliban was ousted for harbouring bin Laden, believed to be the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
The frequency of bombing attacks have also increased since last September, leading some to suggest that insurgents may have begun adopting tactics used in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper expressed his condolences upon hearing of the tragedy.
"Canadians serving abroad put their lives on the line every day in the name of freedom and democracy and, for that, we are very grateful. This incident is a reminder that we cannot take our security for granted - that those who serve face dangers we can only imagine," Harper said in a written statement.
"On behalf of the Conservative Party of Canada, my wife Laureen and I extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those who were killed or injured in this incident."
Source
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