OTTAWA (CP) - -Two Canadian soldiers wounded by a suicide attack that killed a Canadian diplomat in Afghanistan remained in critical condition Monday as they were transported to Germany for further treatment.

Lt.-Col. Steve Borland, the deputy commander and chief of staff for the Canadian Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar, said Pte. William Edward Salikin and Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey were in critical condition and in "medically induced unconsciousness," while Master Cpl. Paul Franklin, who lost a leg in the blast, was in serious but stable condition.

"There's quite a significant medical facility there, with some of the best medical people we can find, so it's quite a remarkable place and our soldiers will be well taken care of there," he said in a telephone interview with The Canadian Press.

"So we've got their close friends, very close friends, that will be with them throughout in Germany, and will accompany them back to Canada," said Borland. "So they have that tie, and that bond and that friendship that exists."

The Canadians were returning to base in enclosed armoured Mercedes jeeps, known as G-Wagons, from a meeting with local leaders on Sunday when the attack occurred. Witnesses reported seeing a taxi swerve into the convoy and blow up.

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