Two Canadian Soldiers Killed as LAV Rolls Over

Two Canadian soldiers were killed instantly yesterday when their light-armoured vehicle rolled over during an operation in southern Afghanistan.

Military officials have identified one of the victims as Corporal Eric Labbe, 31, a Vandoo from Rimouski, Que. The second soldier's name is being temporarily withheld at the request of his family.

Enemy action was not involved - the soldiers were in the turret of an eight-wheeled armoured vehicle when it was crossing what military officials called "rough and difficult terrain," a dirt track soaked with rain about 40 kilometres southwest of Kandahar City, when the vehicle rolled. The soldiers both died on scene. Two others inside the vehicle were unhurt.

At the time of the incident, the soldiers were in the midst of the multiday operation to flush insurgents from an area around Nalgham, in the volatile Zhari district of Kandahar province. The soldiers were moving into position to set up camp for the night when the accident happened.