A landmine has killed two US allied Afghan troops less than two kilometres from the US air base at Kandahar.
Canadian forces fired warning shots while pursuing two suspects after the blast.
Four other Afghans were injured by the mine, said Major AC Roper, spokesman for the 101st Airborne Division at Kandahar airport.
The Afghan forces were traveling in a three-vehicle convoy late last night when they hit the mine northeast of the air base, he said. The injured were brought to the base for medical care.
A joint Canadian-Afghan patrol, with cover from a US Apache helicopter, was sent in pursuit of two men seen digging holes in the area of the explosion, according to Major Roper.
Canadian troops fired warning shots at the two men, who got away.
The road where the mine exploded is heavily traveled by troops in the military coalition at Kandahar.
It's the fifth incident near the air base since January 10th, when gunmen opened fire as a transport plane carrying 20 al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners took off for the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The last such shooting occurred February 13th, when gunmen allegedly fired on US forces guarding the base perimeter. Two US soldiers suffered minor injuries.
Major Roper said the incidents near the base are of "extreme concern," but said the base perimeter has never been breached. No arrests have been made in any of the confrontations, he said.
PA