KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CP) - Canadian soldiers were patrolling villages southwest of Kandahar Saturday, looking for Taliban fighters who slipped away following a day-long battle.
Senior coalition officers said the troops were looking for insurgents who may have been wounded during a coalition air strike.
The battle began yesterday with the ambush of an Afghan police checkpoint just as a senior Afghan army commander was passing through the area.
Each side exchanged small arms fire until a Canadian Army rapid reaction force arrived.
Insurgents fired two rocket-propelled grenades at a Canadian armoured vehicle, but no one was hurt.
Taliban fighters, who had apparently been massing in the area for days, retreated to the village of Sansigar, which was hit by an air strike.
Kandahar Governor Assadullah Khalid claimed 41 insurgents were killed and 11 captured in Friday's fight.
Six Afghan police officers were killed, nine others were injured.
In addition, 13 civilians were wounded, including a woman and a young girl.
http://start.shaw.ca/start/enCA/News/NationalNewsArticle.htm?src=n041502A.xml
No Canadians were killed or wounded.
Senior coalition officers said the troops were looking for insurgents who may have been wounded during a coalition air strike.
The battle began yesterday with the ambush of an Afghan police checkpoint just as a senior Afghan army commander was passing through the area.
Each side exchanged small arms fire until a Canadian Army rapid reaction force arrived.
Insurgents fired two rocket-propelled grenades at a Canadian armoured vehicle, but no one was hurt.
Taliban fighters, who had apparently been massing in the area for days, retreated to the village of Sansigar, which was hit by an air strike.
Kandahar Governor Assadullah Khalid claimed 41 insurgents were killed and 11 captured in Friday's fight.
Six Afghan police officers were killed, nine others were injured.
In addition, 13 civilians were wounded, including a woman and a young girl.
http://start.shaw.ca/start/enCA/News/NationalNewsArticle.htm?src=n041502A.xml
No Canadians were killed or wounded.