Canadian soldier killed by IED in S. Afghanistan

MONTREAL, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A Canadian soldier was killed in southern Afghanistan when the armored vehicle he was riding in was struck by an improvised explosive device, Canada's Department of National Defence said on Sunday.

Four other Canadian soldiers were injured in the incident, which occurred during a routine patrol about 12 miles (20 km) west of Kandahar, in the Taliban stronghold Zhari district.

Helicopters were used to evacuate the soldiers to the medical unit at at Kandahar airfield. The wounded soldiers are in stable condition and have contacted their families, Ottawa added.

The defense department identified the dead Canadian soldier as Gunner Jonathan Dion, 27, a member of the 5th Regiment d'Artillerie legere du Canada, based in Valcartier, Quebec.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General Michaelle Jean expressed condolences on behalf of the country.

Since 2001, 74 Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, the third highest toll, behind the United States and Britain, among the nearly 40 countries with troops there.

Canada has 2,500 troops in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on a mission due to end in early 2009. (Reporting by Robert Melnbardis, editing by Todd Eastham)