Two Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan were hurt Wednesday morning when a bomb exploded near their convoy west of Kandahar.

Canadian Forces spokesman Maj. Marc Thériault said the soldiers were airlifted to the Kandahar airfield for treatment.

"They have arrived on base, and one is in very good condition and is staying under observation," he told a briefing in Kandahar.




"The other soldier is undergoing further assessment. Both of them are in non-life-threatening condition."

The convoy was on its way to Forward Operating Base Robinson to replace troops there when an improvised explosive device blew up near a Bison reconnaissance vehicle.

The vehicle was able to continue to the base after the attack.

About 2,300 Canadian soldiers make up Task Force Afghanistan, based in and around the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, in the southern part of the country.

Robinson is one of a series of satellite bases set up far from the main base in Kandahar in order to "take the fight to the Taliban," in the military's words.

It's located near the spot where Pte. Robert Costall died in a gunfight three weeks ago, trying to protect Afghan soldiers who had come under attack.

Along with the 22-year-old Canadian soldier, an American soldier and an undetermined number of Afghan soldiers died in the late March bout of fighting. Three other Canadian soldiers were injured.

"It looks like the area is becoming more dangerous," said CBC reporter Sasa Petricic, who was at the briefing in Kandahar.

Wednesday's bombing marked the first attack in the area to specifically target Canadian troops, he noted.