Canada's toll in Afghanistan climbs

VANCOUVER - Two Canadian soldiers were killed and five wounded when they were attacked by insurgents in Afghanistan.

The Nato soldiers came under fire from mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms while helping to clear explosives from an area planned for road construction about 20km west of Kandahar, the Canadian Department of National Defence said.

Thirty-nine members of the Canadian Armed Forces have been killed in Afghanistan since late 2001. Canada has 2300 soldiers based in Kandahar.

- REUTERS