Roadside bomb kills Canadian soldier in Afghanistan

A Canadian soldier was killed by a roadsidebomb Saturdaynear Kandahar city, the military reported.

Sapper Sean David Greenfield, 25, was acombat engineer based in Petawawa, Ont.

Heisthe second Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan in2009,bringing the Canadian military's death tollto 108 since the Afghan mission began seven years ago.

One Canadian diplomat and two Canadian aid workers have also been killed.

Abomb exploded under Greenfield'sarmoured vehicle in the Zhari district, about 40 kilometres west of Kandahar city.

None of the other soldiers in the vehicle was hurt,said Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson, commander of coalition forces in Kandahar province.

Greenfield was part of a missionlooking for Taliban supplies, and the soldiers did find weapons and bomb-making material, Thompson said.

"Today we grieve, but tomorrow we'll persevere," he told reporters.

Greenfield was very fit anda singer and guitar player, Thompson said.

"He will be sorely missed."

Violent winter

The Taliban usually attack during the warmer months and have tended to lie low in the winter, but this yearthey have stepped up their attacks.

ElevenCanadian soldiers havebeen killedsince early December, all in bomb attacks.

Coalition forces have gone after the Taliban hideouts and have been findingweapons. But the caches have been smaller than previous finds,indicating the effort to choke off the militants' supply line is working,Thompson said.

Greenfieldwaswiththe 24 Field Engineer Squadron, 2 Combat Engineer Regiment, serving with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff both offeredtheircondolences to Greenfield'sfamily, friends and comrades.

"The Canadian mission in Afghanistan is a difficult one, but the Canadian Forces are making a difference in the lives of the Afghan people by maintaining security and stability that will allow the country to rebuild and look to the future," Harpersaid in a statement his office issued Saturday evening.

"Canadians owe a tremendous debt to the men and women of our Canadian Forces for their courage and sacrifice for our country," Ignatieff said in a statement.