Kabul - Three Canadian soldiers under NATO command were killed and five wounded in a fight with Taliban insurgents in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, officials said Thursday.

The soldiers' armoured vehicle was attacked Wednesday while they were conducting a security patrol in the Zherai district, the Canadian Defence Ministry said.

The latest deaths bring to 96 the number of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan since the ouster of the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban regime and the forces' deployment to the insurgency-plagued country in 2002.

A Canadian diplomat and two aid workers have also been killed during this period.

The soldiers were part of the 2,500-strong Canadian troop contingent that has served under the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, the force said in a statement.

The Canadian Defence Ministry identified the dead soldiers as Corporal Andrew Paul Grenon, Corporal Michael James Alexander Seggie and Private Chadwick James Horn.

Of the wounded, one soldier was in critical condition, one was in serious but stable condition, two were in good condition, and one was treated and returned to duty, the ministry said in a statement.

More than 3,800 people - mostly insurgents, but also including about 190 international soldiers - have been killed in Afghanistan so far this year.

"We will continue with our mission as we remember the lives of our fallen soldiers," the ministry statement said, adding, "We remain committed to working together with the people of Afghanistan to improve security and stability in Kandahar province."

Despite repeated calls at home to withdraw the troops, Canada has committed to keep its soldiers in Afghanistan until 2011. (dpa)