Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 27, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press sunday August 27, 2006 a3 top news canadians kill afghan officer police failed to heed warning official says by Donald Mcarthur k Kandahar Afghanistan ? Canadian troops shot and killed an afghan National police officer and injured six others in two incidents at the same location yesterday just four Days after a Canadian Soldier fatally shot an afghan boy and injured another in the charged hours after a deadly suicide bombing. A firefight erupted West of Kandahar City about 12 20 . When armed afghan police officers in Plain clothes rapidly approached a Static Cana Dian artillery position in a civilian pattern truck and failed to heed repeated warnings to Stop said col. Fred Lewis Deputy commander of the Cana Dian contingent Here. It is believed that the persons in the civilian vehicle opened fire in response to warning shots fired by the canadians. It was at this time that Canadian soldiers returned fire on the vehicle and its six occupants said Lewis. Canadian troops work closely with their afghan Security colleagues but did to recognize the trucks armed occupants As police officers in Plain clothes because neither their vehicle nor their immediate appearance readily identified them As within 40 minutes of the fatal shooting two More plainclothes officers Riding a Scooter approached the same Canadian position at a High rate of Speed and were shot at after ignoring repeated verbal and visual warnings followed by warning shots said Lewis. One was wounded by a single gunshot and the second when the Scooter skidded off the Dusty Road. There were no Canadian casualties. The injured afghan police officers Are being treated at the Kandahar air Field Hospital. Their conditions were not released by the military. It would appear Canadian soldiers reacted in self defence in both incidents said Lewis. We share an extremely close and professional work ing relationship with the afghan National police and deeply regret the on tuesday a single Bullet fired by a Canadian Soldier killed an afghan boy and injured an older teen about two hours after Cpl. David Braun 27, of Raymore sask., was killed and three other soldiers injured when a suicide bomber slammed into a Canadian Convoy just outside the Gates of Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar. The military said the two civilians were Riding a motorcycle that approached a Canadian Security cordon near the bomb site at a High rate of Speed and ignored warning shots before the fatal Bullet was fired. The Bullet passed through the Driver and then passed through the passenger who was killed. Lewis said the Soldier feared the motorcycle car ried a secondary suicide bomber. That incident and yesterdays incidents Are being probed by Canadas National investigation service an Independent and internal military body. Afghan National police Are also investigating yesterdays shootings. Fresh troops recently arrived from Canada to replace troops bound for Home but Lewis declined to speculate if mounting casualties had made the incoming soldiers jittery. I would say right now that the soldiers have acted in accordance with their rules of engagement and the training that they be undergone he said. They did what they had to ? can West news service solemn ceremony for fallen Soldier by Lauren la Rose Trenton ont. ? the Sun disappeared tucked behind Clouds and a Grey pall was cast Over cab Trenton As a military transport returned Home yesterday carrying the body of the eighth Canadian Soldier to die in Afghanistan this month. Cpl. David Braun 27, was killed tuesday when a resupply Convoy was struck by a vehicle packed with explosives in Kandahar. Three other soldiers were injured. Braun smother Patty sister Diana and Brothers Mike and Chris were joined by Braun a Friend Terry Braman on the Tarmac for the solemn repatriation ceremony As a gentle Breeze rippled Over the Eastern Ontario military base. Each looked on in sorrow dabbing tears As Braun a coffin was lowered from the plane and car ried by uniformed pallbearers to a waiting Hearse accompanied by a Lone Piper playing a Mournful lament. Military officials said that at the family a request Braun a coffin was draped with the Canadian forces Ensign a White Flag bearing both the Canadian Maple Leaf and the Emblem of the forces. Some 25 fellow soldiers being rotated out of Afghanistan after their Tours of duty accompanied Braun on the journey Home. Dressed in fatigues they stood stoically in Salute joined by military brass defence minister Gordon Oconnor and chief of defence staff Gen. Rick Hillier. Before approaching Braun a coffin his loved ones formed a Semi Circle embracing one another for several moments As a padre recited a prayer and Blessing. Braun smother then approached the Hearse kissed her hand and touched her sons casket before laying a single yellow Rose on top. Braun a siblings and Friend followed taking a moment to pay their respects before placing a Rose of their own. About a dozen bystanders stood behind a Fence at the outer Edge of the base waving Canadian flags in a show of support for the fallen Soldier. Braun a body will be transported to his Home town of Raymore sask., where he will be buried with full military honours. In a written statement released last week Patty Braun said her son had dreamed of being in the Mil itary since he was 12 years old. Braun smother said the family is proud of his bravery and asked the Public to support the troops in Afghanistan. Braun had been stationed with the second Bat Talion Princess Patricia a Canadian Light infantry at cab Shilo for four years. He was the 27th to die since Canada deployed ground forces to Afghanistan in Early 2002. Two hours after the attack that killed Braun Canadian soldiers ? fearful of another suicide attack ? shot a motorcycle Driver and passenger that crossed a Security perimeter at the bombing site. Officials said the soldiers fired on the motor Cycle after the riders were Given several warnings to Stop. The Driver believed to be 17, remains in serious but stable condition. The passenger a Young afghan boy was killed by a Canadian Bullet. The military a arms length National investigation service is probing the shooting. Canadian forces engaged in an increasingly dangerous Mission have in recent weeks been hit by an increased number of suicide and rocket attacks Roadside bombs ambushes and shootouts. The deadliest attack on aug. 3 claimed the lives of four Canadian soldiers. Those soldiers sgt. Vaughn Ingram pet. Kevin Dallaire Cpl. Bryce Keller and Cpl. Christopher Reid have All since been buried in Canada. Cpl. Andrew eykelenboom was killed in a suicide attack near the afghan pakistani Border on aug. 11 master Cpl. Jeffrey Walsh was killed by an Acci dental weapons discharge on aug. 9 and master Cpl. Raymond Arndt died after a truck collided head on with his a Wagon Southwest of Kandahar aug. 5. Canada has about 2,200 troops in Afghanistan most of them based in Kandahar. Within the past few weeks a new rotation of sol Diers has replaced an almost equal number of sol Diers who had finished More than six months on duty in Afghanistan. ? Canadian press ;