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Diplomat Killed in Afghanistan

Glyn Berry, a diplomat who was Canada`s senior diplomat in southern Afghanistan and the political director of a 250-member provincial reconstruction team there, was among three civilians killed in a suicide car bombing this past Sunday in Afghanistan. The attack was made on a Canadian military convoy in the southern city of Kandahar, a former Taliban stronghold.

Afghanistan has been hit by about 25 suicide bombings in the past four months - a relatively new tactic for militants here, as well as one that has reinforced fears the country may see more assaults modeled on those in Iraq. Sunday`s attack occurred as the Canadian convoy was driving near their base in Kandahar, a former Taliban stronghold, said Interior Ministry spokesman Dad Mohammed Rasa. Two civilians were also killed, with ten wounded.

Three Canadian soldiers were wounded in the attack, with two in critical condition with life threatening injuries. Nine Canadians have died in Afghanistan since U.S.-led NATO operations began there in late 2001 following the September 11 terrorist attacks. A U.S. fighter pilot mistakenly bombed four soldiers in 2002 and four others have died in accidents.