A Canadian soldier has been killed in a gun battle west of Kandahar City, Afghanistan, and two more Canadian soldiers were injured.

The soldier has been identified as 21-year-old Cpl. Anthony Joseph Boneca, a reservist from the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment of Thunder Bay, Ont.

"He died in an ambush just about 200 metres away from where our patrol was," CTV's Steve Chao told Newsnet on Sunday.

"We heard gunfire at about 8:30 a.m., as several patrollers were trying to conduct a sweep through a village called Pashmul. This is a village long known as a Taliban stronghold. The Soviets tried to take over and attack this village and failed. The Americans have been trying for months to rout the Taliban here, and they also failed. The Canadians were having a go at it, and it's been a three-day long intensive battle."

Boneca, the 17th Canadian soldier to lose his life in Afghanistan, died Sunday morning.

"He was doing outstanding work out there," said Brig.-Gen. David Fraser. "We really have to admire his professionalism and outstanding efforts to help those less fortunate."

A few hours after Boneca was killed, two other Canadian soldiers were wounded in fighting in the same area. Both were airlifted to hospital at the international coalition base in Kandahar with what was described as non-life threatening injuries.

Boneca's uncle, William Babe, told CTV his nephew was scheduled to return home in three weeks, and he was looking forward to the homecoming.

"He said, 'It's not like you see on TV and I would never do it again,'" Babe said, adding that Boneca was serving on his second tour in Afghanistan.

Babe learned of Boneca's death early Sunday, and said the family was devastated by the loss.

"I have so many memories -- hundreds of memories -- he was just a wonderful boy and a fine young man. Very strong, very honest, really helpful and considerate. I can't say enough good things about him," he said.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered his condolences in a statement. He praised Boneca's courage and self-sacrifice and said he gave his life for an important, but dangerous, mission.

"Our prayers are with the loved ones of Cpl. Boneca in these difficult times and we stand proudly as a nation knowing that his sacrifice was not in vain; that he laid down his life for the safety of citizens in both Canada and Afghanistan.

Two Canadians injured in Saturday clashes

Two other Canadian soldiers were injured one day earlier in a separate clash with Taliban insurgents in the same area.

The soldiers have not been named but the more seriously injured of the two -- who was to be flown to Germany for further treatment -- has been identified as a member of the Manitoba-based 2 Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.

The nature of their injuries has not been released, but there are reports they may have been the victims of friendly fire.

Canadian troops have encountered tough opposition as they have pushed into the region that has been the scene of numerous Taliban ambushes and attacks in recent months, said Chao.

"This battle has been going on since Friday night when we joined Canadian troops travelling into this area," Chao told CTV Newsnet.

"This is an operation that has been planned for weeks now and the hope really is to try and push the Taliban out of this area."

With numerous vineyards, riverbeds and mud-walled compounds, the area poses many risks for soldiers searching for insurgents.

"This is close-quarter combat for Canadian soldiers here, which is why they've received a number of injuries and in this case, one death," said Chao.

With a report from CTV's Steve Chao