Canadian soldier killed, 3 injured in Afghanistan blast

One Canadian soldier was killed and three were injured when an improvised explosive device detonated in Afghanistan on Friday.

The incident occurred at about 12:45 p.m. local time Fridayin the Zhari District of Kandahar province about 24 kilometres west of Kandahar City, Canadian military officials said.

"The soldiers were conducting security operations in the area when the explosion occurred," Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson told reporters in Kandahar.

The roadside bomb went off near their vehicle, Thompson said.

The dead soldier was identified by the military as Pte. Michael Freeman, 28, who served with November Company, 3rd Battalion, the Royal Canadian Regiment from CFB Petawawa, Ont. He was less than two weeks back in Kandahar from home leave. This was his first tour of Afghanistan.

Military officials said the three soldiers who were wounded are in good condition.

The death puts the Canadian toll in Afghanistan to 104 soldiers and one diplomat since the mission began seven years ago.

Canada has about 2,500 soldiers in Afghanistan. Most are based in the south around Kandahar. Its military mission is slated to end in 2011.

Roadside bomb attacks have killed seven Canadian soldiers in December alone.

Also Friday, officials with the Canadian military have confirmed Shahir Sahib, believed to have been responsible for the planting of roadside bombs that killed six Canadian soldiers in two separate incidents earlier this month, has been killed.

Coalition forces killed 11 armed insurgents, including Sahib, during an operation in southern Afghanistan.

Though Canadian forces were not involved in the operation, they played a role in developing leads and gather information leading up to the raid, officials said.