By Prensa Latina
Kabul : A Canadian soldier of the NATO-led forces died in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, when a bomb hit the armored vehicle in which he was travelling, military sources said here Saturday.
A communique from the Canadian Defense Ministry said the number of dead Canadian soldiers since that country deployed its forces in Afghanistan in 2002 has increased to 82.
The deceased soldier was identified as Corporal Terry John Street, from Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.
According to the military report, the incident occurred in the district of Panjwai at the 18:15 local time Friday.
Street was immediately transferred to the military hospital in the airport of Kandahar but he died shortly after.
Canada currently has deployed 2,500 soldiers in the International Security Assistance Force, and most are in Kandahar, where the resistance movement is increasingly stronger.
A total of 37 foreign soldiers have died in Afghanistan this year.
The United States and the member countries of the coalition supporting the war and later occupation of the Asian nation in 2001 have deployed more than 70,000 soldiers on Afghan soil.
The Canadian government is pressing NATO to send 1,000 more soldiers, unmanned airplanes and helicopters to support its contingent.
Ottawa considers that other NATO member countries should strengthen their military commitment in the war.