GRAEME SMITH

Globe and Mail Update

March 2, 2008 at 5:23 PM EST

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — A Canadian soldier was killed in a explosion southwest of Kandahar city today, just before he was scheduled to leave Afghanistan.

Canadian troops were driving supplies to an Afghan army outpost when a roadside bomb hit their convoy at 3:45 p.m., roughly 45 kilometres southwest of Kandahar city, near a cluster of villages known as Mushan.

No others were injured by the blast. The soldier has been identified as Trooper Michael Yuki Hayakaze, 25, of Lord Strathcona's Horse, based out of Edmonton.

He was part of the outgoing rotation of troops, mostly from Quebec, and would have served in the country since July or August.

Our men and women know we are engaged in a dangerous mission," said Brigadier-General Guy Laroche, commander of Canadian forces in the country. "They also know how important their presence is to the people of Afghanistan."

He continued: "They defend those who cannot defend themselves at the risk of their own lives, and they help build a better future for Afghan children by setting the stage for lasting stability."

This is the 79th Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan. A diplomat, Glyn Berry, also died in a bombing in 2006.

The latest six-month rotation of troops has not suffered any deaths from direct combat, as the Canadians have pulled back from outlying districts and focused on securing key zones around Kandahar city. The Taliban have also shifted their tactics, preferring to hit the well-armoured foreign troops with large bombs buried in the road instead of attacking them directly.

The insurgents have rarely enjoyed success with fighting the Canadians face-to-face. Asked whether the increasing use of improvised explosive devices indicates the insurgents are choosing more effective methods, Brig-Gen Laroche said he disagrees.

"I think they are more desperate, in fact," he said. "They are still using the IED, their weapon of choice, and we have seen another example of that today."