French Officer Killed, Canadian Injured in Afghanistan
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KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Taliban insurgents killed a French special forces officer in Afghanistan on Saturday and a Canadian officer was in critical condition after being attacked with an ax during a meeting with tribal elders.
Elsewhere in the volatile south, a roadside bomb killed an Afghan intelligence agent and four other Afghans while President Bush was in neighboring Pakistan discussing ways to improve cooperation in the U.S.-led fight against Islamic extremists.
The violence is part of a guerrilla campaign to topple the U.S.-backed government of President Hamid Karzai that has claimed more than 1,500 lives since the start of last year.
A military spokesman said Canadian Lt. Trevor Greene was struck in the head from behind during a meeting in Kandahar province’s Shinkai district.
Canadian soldiers opened fire and killed the assailant, the spokesman said.
A U.S. spokesman said two Taliban guerrillas were killed in the clash in which the French officer died.
A Taliban spokesman said the guerrillas planted the bomb that killed the Afghans in Helmand province.
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