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3 Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- A roadside bomb detonated near a Canadian military armored vehicle Saturday, killing three soldiers and wounding a fourth, authorities said.

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The attack occurred while the Canadian soldiers were on patrol west of Kandahar City, CanWest News Service reported.

The troops were checking out reports that people were seen placing a suspicious object on the roadway, CanWest said.

The blast occurred not far from the site of a Dec. 5 explosion that claimed the lives of three other Canadian soldiers.

The fatalities bring the Canadian military death toll in Afghanistan to 103 since 2002. A Canadian diplomat and two humanitarian workers also have been killed in Afghanistan.


Afghan bus riders killed by NATO troops

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- NATO troops on patrol on Afghanistan opened fire on a bus that failed to heed their warnings to stop, killing four people on board, authorities said.

The International Security and Assistance Force press service said several more passengers were wounded in the Friday morning incident south of Kabul on the road to Kandahar, RIA Novosti reported Saturday.

The military coalition said the soldiers fired on the bus after the driver made no move to slow down after they made warning gestures and fired shots in the air, the Russian news agency said.

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Meanwhile, the bodies of two Afghan police officers among three captured this week by Taliban forces in Kunduz province were found Saturday, RIA Novosti said. A provincial security spokesman said the bodies were discovered after information was received from the insurgents, who then staged an ambush when Interior Ministry troops arrived to recover their comrades. There were no casualties among the Afghan police involved in the encounter.

The whereabouts of the third captured police officer was unknown.


Ex-Taiwanese president free without bail

TAIPEI, Taiwan, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Chen Shui-bian, the former president of Taiwan accused of money laundering and corruption while in office, was freed without bail Saturday.

The release of Chen, who was arrested Nov. 11, followed a four-hour hearing in Taipei District Court, The China Post reported.

The court ordered Chen to remain in Taiwan to face trial. No date was set for his trial. If convicted, Chen could be sent to prison for life.

Chen, 57, is the first ex-president in the island nation's history to be indicted. The charges stem from his handling of his discretionary "state affairs fund" while in office from 2000 until May 2008. He also allegedly transferred funds millions of dollars to foreign accounts held by his family.

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Chen has denied the charges, claiming he is being targeted because of his stand against China.

While in office, Chen strongly advocated independence for Taiwan, which mainland China claims as its territory. President Ma Ying-jeou, who succeeded Chen, has sought to pursue a friendlier policy toward China.

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