Canada’s forces in Afghanistan have suffered one of their worst ever losses of life in a single incident, with the death of six soldiers and their interpreter near Kandahar. Their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in a similar incident to one in April in which another six Canadians died. 22 Canadians have been killed so far this year. 2500 troops have been stationed there since 2002.

However, these latest deaths have raised the pressure on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to not renew Canada’s participation in Afghanistan beyond February 2009. Many Canadian troops recently deployed there are from French-speaking Québec where Harper wants to do well in the next election.

Copyright © 2012 euronews