KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, July 22 (UPI) -- Two Canadian soldiers and at least five Afghan civilians died Saturday in a double attack by suicide bombers in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Eight other Canadian soldiers were hurt, when a car with explosives crashed into their convoy, the BBC reported.
A short time later, a second bomb went off at the scene, killing at least five Afghans and injuring at least 20 more.
Earlier, in the neighboring province of Helmand, Afghan soldiers and U.S.-led forces reported killing 13 suspected Taliban fighters, officials said.
A man claiming to be a spokesman for the Taliban told reporters by telephone that the movement was behind the suicide attacks. He threatened more attacks and ambushes against the U.S.-led coalition and Afghan forces.
In Helmand, some 15 Taliban fighters were injured in fighting with ground forces backed by helicopter gunships, officials said.
The fighting took place in the Garmser district in Helmand -- one of two Taliban-held areas which the coalition said it had retaken earlier this week.
Lt. Gen David Richards, head of NATO's international security force in Afghanistan, warned that coalition troops lacked necessary equipment.
