www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000082&sid=a_CoqA4_lWUg&refer=canada


Canadian Soldier Wounded in Axe Attack in Afghanistan, CTV Says
March 4 (Bloomberg) -- A Canadian soldier was wounded in an attack by an axe-wielding man in southern Afghanistan, CTV reported.

The soldier, Trevor Greene, was hit in the back of the neck with an axe during a meeting of Afghan elders in Gumbad, a town north of Kandahar, the Canadian broadcaster said. Greene is in critical but stable condition, CTV said. The attacker was shot dead.

The casualty comes one day after five Canadian soldiers were injured in a suspected attack by a suicide bomber. Polls show Canadians are divided over whether the nation should have troops in Afghanistan.

A poll published today by Ipsos-Reid found 52 percent of Canadians support the country's military role in Afghanistan, while 48 percent said Canada should withdraw its troops from the country. The Internet survey of 800 Canadians has a margin of error of 3.5 plus or minus percentage points.

Canada has 2,300 troops assigned to Afghanistan.




I thought axe attacks only happened in Britain?

www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060304.wafghanistan0304/BNStory/National/home


Soldier wounded in axe-and-grenade ambush
Canadian Press

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan —

An attack initially described as a gun battle that wounded a Canadian soldier was actually a bizarre axe-and-grenade ambush, military officials said Saturday.



Lieut. Trevor Greene of Vancouver, B.C., was sitting down for a meeting with village elders Saturday afternoon when a man struck him in the back of the head with an axe.



"We would classify it is absolutely cowardly, a maniac I guess is safe to say," said Col. Tom Putt, the deputy commander of Canadian forces in Afghanistan.



Moments after Canadian soldiers gunned down the attacker, a second assailant tossed a grenade. Afghan forces shot at the man, who escaped.



Earlier, military official out of Ottawa said gunfire was exchanged in the attack.



Col. Putt said Lieut.Greene had taken off his helmet out of respect for gathered elders when he was hit.



"His security force killed the assailant immediately after the attack," Col. Putt said.



In the ensuing melee, a grenade was tossed at Canadian forces "to no effect," Col. Putt said. He did not know if the grenade went off.



Afghan soldiers shot at the second attacker. Col. Putt said soldiers believe the man was hit, but he escaped.

Lieut. Greene, a reservist with the Seaforth Highlanders, is an author and journalist based in Vancouver, when he's not working with the military co-ordinating projects with local authorities.

He has written a book about the missing women of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.



and another take and more informative to boot, on this whole episode