Third Child Dies After Afghan Explosion

One would think that range practices would take place only in specific areas that are well marked and off limits to locals but maybe that would be difficult. In any event the area was obviously close to a village and not properly cleared before being abandoned.
Events such as these just make the occupiers even less welcome. However, as far as I am concerned we should never have been there from the very first. We are simply helping to promote the aims of US imperialism.


3rd child dies after Afghan explosion
Last Updated: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 10:18 AM ET CBC News
A third child has died from wounds sustained an explosion in an Afghan village that residents alleged was caused by a shell left by Canadian troops.
The Canadian military announced Monday it was launching an investigation into the incident in the village of Salehan, about 15 kilometres southwest of Kandahar city.
A Panjwaii district elder claims the children were killed and two others were wounded when they came across an unexploded Canadian rocket in the area around the village.
The elder said he believes the children were scavenging for bits of scrap metal and found what may have been unexploded munitions in a field after Canadian soldiers conducted a range practice.
The Canadian Press reported that hospital officials in Kandahar identified the third victim as four-year-old Juma Gul, one of three children treated for shrapnel wounds after the explosion. Two other children, a 13-year-old identified as Sadar Mohammed and 12-year-old Amed Jan, were killed instantly.
The allegation sparked an angry protest Monday outside the provincial council office in Kandahar city. Demonstrators shouted "Death to Canada" and "Death to America" as bodies of the two children were carted off to the gates of the Kandahar governor's guest house.
Army spokesman Maj. Mario Corture confirmed troops were in the area Sunday conducting firing exercises. But he said they followed standard procedure and swept the fields before departing.With files from the Canadian Press