Glyn dies in attack (From Barry And District News)

Glyn dies in attack

FORMER Barry man Glyn Berry, a Canadian diplomat, has been killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan.

Three Canadian soldiers were injured in the terrorist attack in Kandahar, on Sunday.

The 59-year-old director of the Canadian reconstruction team in the region grew up in Barry, and moved to Canada in his 20s.

He joined the foreign service 30 years ago and took postings in Norway, Washington, Havana and London.

He had been in Afghanistan since August, leaving his post as political counsellor at the Canadian mission at the United Nations in New York for the more risky tour in the war-ravaged country.

"That part of the world just fascinated him, both for personal reasons and also the political dynamics of the subcontinent," said Gilbert Laurin, Ottawa's deputy permanent representative at the UN, who worked with Mr Berry for several years.

"He was one of those enthusiastic people who take on challenges and don't shirk from things that are at the limits of their reach."

Mr Berry's wife, Valerie, is ethnic South Asian and friends say she was reluctant to see her husband return to the region for his most recent assignment.

The couple have two sons, who live in London.

Two of the Canadian soldiers injured with Mr Berry remain in a critical condition. The third had less severe injuries.

In his role as head of the Canadian team, Mr Berry co-ordinated reconstruction projects in the Kandahar region, meeting regularly with local authorities to assess needs and allocate resources.

Mr Berry joined the Canadian mission at the United Nations headquarters in 2002 where, among his duties, he chaired the General Assembly's committee on peacekeeping operations.

Mr Berry spent Christmas in London, arriving shortly after witnessing a roadside bombing attack on a Canadian convoy near Kandahar in which three soldiers and Tim Albone, a freelance reporter, were wounded.

In an interview, Mr Berry told Mr Albone that Kandahar "is the right place for Canada to be. We have to stop Afghanistan being used as a terrorist base camp."

Following the attack which killed Mr Berry, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said: "On behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Glyn Berry.

"Mr Berry had a long and distinguished career of service to Canadians at home and abroad.