Two Canadian soldiers and an interpreter were killed when a roadside bomb exploded during a patrol in southern Afghanistan.

Late Wednesday night, the Canadian Forces identified one of the soldiers as Master Cpl. Christian Duchesne, of the 5th Field Ambulance based out of Valcartier, Que.

The soldiers' families have been notified, but the name of the remaining soldier is being temporarily withheld at the family's request.

Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche told a news conference in Kandahar that another soldier and two Canadian journalists were injured in the same incident, which occurred in southern Afghanistan.

Their LAV-III armoured vehicle hit an improvised explosive device, Laroche said, an insurgent tactic he described as "vicious."

The operation in Zhari district -- about 50 kilometres west of Kandahar city -- was conducted by Bravo Company of the 3rd Battalion, part of the Quebec-based Royal 22nd Regiment popularly known as the Van Doos.

Canadian and Afghan troops exchanged fire with the insurgents in the first major combat operation for the Van Doos since the regiment began arriving in late July. No Canadians were injured in combat, and they took control of a strategic hill.

"The mission was a success. And we have to say the losses that occurred today occurred at the end. They had reached their objectives, they had reached their mission," Laroche said.

The deaths didn't result from a "lack of care. They are a reality of Afghanistan," he said.

After the fighting, Canadian troops discovered a massive IED that created a 20-metre-high fireball when detonated. Another, undiscovered IED caused the deaths.

"This is an extremely difficult and emotional situation for the families' friends and colleagues of those who have lost their lives or been injured the incident," Laroche said.

"There is no way to comfort those who are grieving today except to say these soldiers were involved in something that they believed in."

Harper statement

Reacting to the latest Canadian casualties, Prime Minister Stephen Harper called it "a very sad day."

"These soldiers gave their life helping to bring stability and security to Afghanistan," Harper said in a statement. "We will always remember them."

According to a military news release, the incident occurred at 6:19 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

The release said the soldiers were part of Operation Eagle Eye, "a joint Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) and ISAF operation aimed at further stabilizing" the troubled Zhari district.

The goal was to improve security in the district's western area, where insurgents have been most active, to provide the conditions for meetings with village elders and reconstruction projects, it said.

Public broadcaster Radio Canada said both journalists were its employees.

Cameraman Charles Dubois had suffered a serious leg injury and underwent surgery at a military hospital.

Reporter Patrice Roy is suffering from nervous shock but is otherwise uninjured, Radio Canada said.

At a Wednesday news conference in Montreal, Radio-Canada vice-president Sylvain Lafrance said the men volunteered for the assignment, were well-trained and had been in Afghanistan since early August.

Roy will decide in the next day or two whether he will continue on Afghanistan, he said.

The two soldiers' deaths bring Canada's military total to 69 since 2002. A diplomat has also been killed.

The Van Doos suffered the first death of their deployment on Sunday. Pte. Simon Longtin, 23, of Longueil, Que. died when the vehicle carrying him struck a roadside bomb. His body arrived back in Canada on Wednesday.

With files from CTV's Denelle Balfour and The Canadian Press