Six Canadian soldiers stationed with Nato and a local Afghan interpreter have been killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.
The seven men died when their armored vehicle hit the device about 20 kilometres southwest of the southern city of Kandahar, which is home to Canada's 2,600-strong mission.
It was the single deadliest attack involving Canadian troops in Afghanistan since six soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in early April. So far 66 have died since Ottawa sent troops to Afghanistan in 2002 to help fight Taliban militants.
The explosion occurred as the troops were returning in a convoy of 12 vehicles from a joint operation with the Afghan national army.
The deaths will only increase doubts among Canadians about the wisdom of the mission, which is due to end in February 2009. Critics say it is focused too much on fighting and not on rebuilding the country.
British, Canadian and Dutch troops make up the bulk of the Nato conginent in the south, part of the main bastion for Taliban fighters. Today's attack brings the total number of foreign troops killed in action in Afghanistan to over 70 this year.