Two Canadian soldiers killed in vehicle roll-over in Afghanistan

A LAV III (Light Armoured Vehicle) pictured above

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Two Canadian soldiers were killed Sunday evening when their light armoured vehicle (LAV) rolled over during an operation in southern Afghanistan.

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Military officials have identified one of the victims as Cpl. Eric Labbé, age 31, 2e Bataillon- Van Doo (Royal 22nd Regiment) from Rimouski, Que.

At the request of the family of the second fallen soldier, the name will be withheld until Monday morning.

Military officials say both soldiers, involved in a multi-day operation in the volatile Zhari district of Khandahar provice, were travelling inside the turret of a LAV-3 as it journeyed along difficult terrain, a dirt track made slippery by rain when it flipped around 6:30 p.m. They died on the scene. Two other soldiers inside the vehicle were unhurt in the accident. They were driving to an area where they hoped to set up camp for the night. The soldiers were part of Operation Teng Azem, or "Operation Steadfast Decision," a joint ISAF and Afghan National Security Forces operation, aimed at flushing out insurgents and disrupting insurgent activities in the region of Nalgham, about 40 kilometres southwest of Kandahar City, establishing a permanent coalition presence in the area. The operation has been underway since Friday and will likely continue.

Officials say the incident was "unrelated to enemy fire." An investigation into what caused the accident is underway.

Monday, January 7, 2008 - 0824

The identity of the second Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan on January 6, 2008 is as follows:

- WO Hani Massouh, age 41, 2e Bataillon, Royal 22e Regiment, based out of Valcartier, Quebec.