4 Canadians hurt in suicide bombing near Kandahar

Four Canadian troops were injured in a suicide bombing in southern Afghanistan on Saturday,a day after the bodies of six fellow soldiers killed in an earlier blast were put on a planeto return home to Canada.

In the latest attack, amanrammed his vehicle into amilitary convoy about eight kilometres west of Kandahar City, setting off an explosion that killed the bomber,officials said.

The soldiers affected by the blast were travellingin a LAV III,considered one of the safest military vehicles being used in the mission.

All were transported by helicopter tothe multinational hospital at Kandahar Air Field. Twowere later released, while the othertwo werestill undergoing treatment.

"The injuries sustained by the soldiers are not serious, the soldiers notified their next of kin themselves," said Maj. Dale MacEachern, a spokesman for the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.

Last Wednesday, six Canadian soldiers and an Afghan interpreter were killed whenthe RG-31 Nyala vehicle they were riding in struck a powerfulroadside bomb in southern Afghanistan.

Ceremonies were held in Kandahar Friday night to honour the fallen soldiers.More than 1,000Canadian troops joined in a memorial held fortheir fellow fighters.

Violence is rising rapidly in Afghanistan, five years into the U.S.-led effort to defeat the Taliban.

Saturday'sattack on the Canadianshappened a day after officials said fierce fighting in three separate regions of Afghanistan killed more than 100 militants.

Shalizai Dedar, governor of northeastern Kunar province, said villagers accused foreign troops of killing dozens of civilians in air strikes on Friday. He said about 60 militants died in the battle, but he could not confirm the reports of civilian deaths.