11 die as Afghan violence surges

A Canadian soldier and 10 militants were killed today in fierce fighting near an opium-rich Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan, the military said.

The battle took place in southern Kandahar province’s Zharew district, which abuts the Panjwayi area, where Canadian and Afghan troops have battled militants since early on Saturday in support of Operation Mountain Thrust, a region-wide offensive targeting Taliban strongholds.