Peacekeeper killed in Afghanistan
A Canadian peacekeeper has been killed and three others injured when explosives were detonated near their patrol.
An International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) convoy of soldiers was patrolling the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Tuesday when a bomber approached them and detonated explosives, said Afghan interior ministry official Aroun Assefi.
At least nine Afghan civilians were also injured in the attack. Kabul’s deputy police chief Khalil Aminzada said the Afghans hurt were pedestrians. The bomber was killed in the attack which took place near a Canadian base on the southern outskirts of the city.
Canada has about 2000 soldiers in the 5700-strong multinational force, making it the largest contingent.
The ISAF troops from 18 different countries were deployed after the US-led 2001 campaign to topple the ruling Taliban.
Tuesday’s was the second attack on foreign peacekeepers in Kabul since their deployment.
Last June, four German peacekeepers were killed and 31
wounded in a car bombing in Kabul.
In the most recent attack in the city, five Afghan
security officials were killed when a man they had detained
blew himself up near the city’s airport.