The fighting took place in Panjwayi district in the volatile Kandahar province where NATO forces launched Operation Medusa -- a mission aimed at clearing the Taliban out of the area. Since the push began Sept. 2 NATO forces claim 320 insurgents have been killed.

Officials haven't released the name or nationality of the NATO solider killed in action Saturday. Five Canadians have been killed since Operation Medusa began, including four who were killed in action and a fifth who was killed when U.S. warplanes accidentally fired on Canadian troops.

Warrant Officers Richard Francis Nolan and Frank Robert Mellish, Sgt. Shane Stachnik and Pte. William Jonathan James Cushley died Sunday in fighting against the Taliban. A day later, Pte. Mark Anthony Graham, a 33-year-old former Olympic sprinter, was killed by friendly fire.

The five fallen soldiers were all based out of CFB Petawawa and were honoured at a memorial Friday.

The commander of Canadian forces on the ground in Afghanistan claims the Taliban stronghold in Panjwayi district is on the verge of collapse.

Meanwhile, NDP members voted in favour of pulling Canadian troops out of Afghanistan at the party's conference in Quebec Saturday. About 90 percent of delegates voted in favour of leader Jack Layton's resolution. He's the only federal party leader to make such a call.