Soldiers salute fallen Canadian at sombre ceremony in Kandahar

Hundreds of Canadian soldiers lined the tarmac at Kandahar Airfield on Sunday to mourn the loss of another comrade before his body was transported back to Canada.

The ramp ceremony was held for Master Cpl.Josh Roberts, who was originally from Saskatoon but based in Shilo, Man.,since 2006. He was killed on Saturdayduring a skirmishin theZhari district west of Kandahar City.

An investigation into the incident is underway as it's believed Roberts may have been accidentally shotby a passing convoy of private security guards.

There is speculation that members of the security convoy opened fire on what they believed to be insurgents anddidn't realizeCanadian troops were already in the areaengaging the group of about 15 insurgents.

Maj. Bob Ritchie, task force commander for Zhari District, said it's not uncommon for private security contractors to engage insurgents.

"Private contractors routinely operate within the battle space and they provide essential security to a lot of development and stabilization groups," he said.

A member of the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Roberts had transferred to the regular forces from the North Saskatchewan Regiment in 2006.

Heleaves behind his fiance Lise and his unborn son Meyer.