Sunninews: A Canadian soldier was killed after stepping on an explosive device while on a foot patrol in Afghanistan on Saturday, the commander of allied forces in the southwestern province of Kandahar said.

Canadian Brigadier-General Daniel Menard told his country's media that Sergeant John Wayne Faught, 44, was the first Canadian killed in Afghanistan this year after the incident in Panjwayi district.

Faught was attached to the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, Alberta, according to Menard, who commands thousands of Canadian and US troops.

The death brings to 139 the number of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2002.

Some 2,800 Canadian military personnel are deployed in Afghanistan, but they will be returning home in 2011 in accordance with a parliamentary decision to withdraw forces.

A small contingent is expected to remain, but will only participate in reconstruction activities.