Afghan bomb kills NATO Canadians

More than 200 soldiers of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) have been killed in 2007.

Meanwhile, US and police forces claimed to have killed scores of insurgents in clashes across southern Afghanistan.

Weapons search

The roadside bombing happened north of a Canadian base near Panjawi in Kandahar province.

The Canadians who died were identified as Cpl Nicolas Raymond Beauchamp and Pte Michel Levesque.

The wounded were taken to a hospital at Kandahar air field with non-life threatening injuries, a military spokesman said.

Wing Commander Antony McCord, a spokesman for Isaf Regional Command South, said in a statement: "Isaf troops contend with the threat of [bomb] strikes on a daily basis, but our soldiers continue to improve the security situation and make a very real and positive difference to the lives of normal hardworking Afghan people.

"Our thoughts at this time are with the families and friends of those who have been killed or injured in today's incident."

Also on Saturday, the US military said at least 23 insurgents were killed during a search for weapons in the south of the country.

One report said a lorry full of Taleban weapons exploded in the province of Helmand, one of the centres of the Taleban insurgency.

In a separate incident, Afghan police say at least 10 militants were killed in Kandahar province.