NATO warplanes accidentally killed a Canadian soldier and wounded several others in a "friendly fire" incident in southern Afghanistan yesterday, NATO said.
The incident occurred during a NATO-led anti-Taliban operation in Kandahar province's Panjwayi district after ground troops requested air support, NATO said.
"Two ISAF [NATO's International Security Assistance Force] aircraft provided the support but regrettably engaged friendly forces during a strafing run, using cannons," it said in a statement.
It said there were "multiple casualties."
NATO spokesman Major Quentin Innis said the soldier killed in the incident and those wounded were all Canadian NATO troops. He gave no further details.
Another alliance spokesman, Major Scott Lundy, said five seriously wounded soldiers were evacuated out of Afghanistan for medical treatment. He did not say where.
A total of 32 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002.
"I wish to send my deepest sympathies to all of the soldiers and their loved ones who've been affected by this very sad accident," said NATO commander Lieutenant General David Richards. "It is particularly distressing to us all when, despite the care and precautions that are always applied, a tragedy like this happens."
An investigation into the incident has been launched.
The raid occurred during a NATO-led campaign called "Operation Medusa," which NATO said has killed more than 200 Taliban fighters and five Canadian soldiers since the mission started on Saturday.
Panjwayi has long been a hotbed of Taliban resistance against US-led forces and against NATO forces since they took military control of southern Afghanistan last month.
suicide bombing
Meanwhile, a car bomb targeting a British military convoy killed four Afghan civilians and one British soldier in Kabul yesterday, NATO and Afghan officials said. Ten people were wounded.
The explosion happened on the Kabul-Jalalabad road at 10:15am, NATO officials said.
Afghan officials said it was a suicide bombing and the attacker also died.
But NATO spokesman Major Toby Jackman said it was unclear if the attack was a suicide bombing or caused by a bomb that was being transported in a car exploding prematurely.
The British Ministry of defense said a four-wheel drive vehicle was driven at the British convoy. It said one soldier had died and another was seriously wounded and evacuated to a military medical facility for treatment.
Major Luke Knittig, another NATO spokesman, said the soldier who died was initially reported wounded, but later succumbed to his injuries.
He said in all, three NATO troops were wounded. Two sustained light injuries.
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