Foreign Affairs diplomat killed in Afghanistan
Updated Sun. Jan. 15 2006 11:08 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A senior Foreign Affairs diplomat was killed and three Canadian soldiers were wounded after a suicide car bombing struck their military convoy in Afghanistan on Sunday.
The diplomat has been identified as Glyn Berry, 59. He had been serving as the political director of the 250-member provincial reconstruction team in Kandahar.
The Canadian soldiers have been identified as Pte. William Edward Salikin of 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment and Master Cpl. Paul Franklin of 1 Field Ambulance, Lt.-Gen. Marc Dumais told a news conference.
Officials say two of three of the soldiers are in critical condition and are suffering life-threatening injuries.
They are expected to be airlifted to an American military hospital in Germany as soon as they can be moved.
"Our most sincere thoughts and prayers are with them and their families and with all Canadians serving in Afghanistan," Dumais said.
It is also believed two Afghan civilians were killed and 10 others were wounded in the attack.
'Pursuit of peace and stability'
Berry, who was born in Britain, had served with Foreign Affairs since 1977 before giving his life to what the prime minister called "the pursuit of peace and stability.''
He had most recently served as head of the political section of Canada's mission at the United Nations in New York.
The deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter Harder, said Berry had been planning a vacation to celebrate his 60th birthday.
"When I spoke with his widow today, she spoke touchingly about how important he felt this work was, and how much he felt that he was making a difference working with real people to change lives," Harder said of Berry's wife Valerie.
"The department has lost a colleague and a friend ... we will miss him."
Eyewitness reports
Berry and the soldiers were about a kilometre southeast of Kandahar when a nearby vehicle-borne bomb exploded as it approached a crowded bus stop on the main road to the camp on Sunday.
A second Canadian vehicle was damaged but no other Canadians were hurt.
"These soldiers travel this route every day, back and forth to the base, and when they do they face this risk," said CTV's Matt McClure, reporting from Kabul. "And they are sitting ducks, and they know it."
Col. Steve Noonan, head of Task Force Afghanistan, said from Kandahar that the Canadians, who have immobilized potential attackers with gunfire before, had no time to fire on the vehicle or try to prevent the attack.
"They did not see the attacker and they did not have time to react," Noonan said. They knew they were being attacked "when the bomb exploded."
Meanwhile, a man claiming to speak on behalf of the ousted Taliban regime claimed responsibility for the attack.
Qari Mohammed Yousaf also warned there are many more suicide attackers "ready to go."
"We will continue this strategy until all foreign forces leave Afghanistan," he told The Associated Press.
Canadians in Afghanistan
Nine Canadians have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002.
There are currently about 685 members of the Canadian Forces working in Afghanistan, and about 450 are stationed at the Kandahar base.
Canada plans to increase its military presence in Kandahar to 2,000 next month. It is a highly volatile city, and commanders have already warned to expect casualties.
"It's clear that this is not a peacekeeping mission," Canadian Col. S.J. Bowes said in a December report from The Associated Press. Bowes will assume responsibility for Kandahar.
However, Prime Minister Paul Martin said the mission was a worthy one.
"Our participation in the mission in Kandahar is essential for establishing peace and security in a nation that is struggling to find its way," he said during a campaign stop in Laval, Que., on Sunday.
In 2005, at least 1,600 people were killed in Afghanistan in attacks by insurgents. It was the deadliest year since 2001, when the Taliban was ousted for harbouring bin Laden, believed to be the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
The frequency of bombing attacks have also increased since last September, leading some to suggest that insurgents may have begun adopting tactics used in the Middle East.
"In any theatre of operations, there's a tactic-counter tactic and adaptation as each side feels each other out," said Noonan.
"There has been a change in tactics from the anti-coalition militia because they were not successful in their previous tactics. We are reasonably comfortable that our reaction to this one will be just as successful ... as the previous campaign."
Condolences offered
Martin expressed his condolences Sunday morning, as he confirmed the Canadian casualties.
"There was a tragic incident near Kandahar in Afghanistan where one Canadian was killed and three others were injured," said Martin.
"On behalf of all Canadians, I want to express my condolences to the family of the individual who was killed, and our prayers and best wishes to the family of the deceased, and to the families of the injured."
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper also extended his "deepest condolences" on behalf of his party and his family.
"Canadians serving abroad put their lives on the line every day in the name of freedom and democracy and, for that, we are very grateful," Harper said in a written statement.
"This incident is a reminder that we cannot take our security for granted - that those who serve face dangers we can only imagine," Harper said.
