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Canada to vote on Afghan mission Canadians extend Afghan mission
(about 7 hours later)
Canada's parliament is due to vote on whether to extend the army's mission in Afghanistan by two years to 2011. Canada's parliament has voted to extend the army's mission in Afghanistan by two years to 2011, but only if Nato sends reinforcements and equipment.
The motion is expected to pass because the minority governing Conservatives have won agreement from the main opposition Liberal Party. MPs voted 198-77 to keep the 2,500 troops in the southern province of Kandahar if Canada's allies send 1,000 more soldiers, drones and helicopters.
Under the motion, Canada's 2,500 troops in Afghanistan will remain in southern Kandahar province if Nato sends 1,000 more soldiers to support them. Otherwise, Canada would withdraw next year at the end of its current mandate.
It is a confidence motion, meaning its failure would trigger an election. The confidence motion had been expected to pass because the minority governing Conservatives had opposition support.
The Conservatives, under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, won the support of the Liberals after they adapted their motion to include greater emphasis on reconstruction and training for Afghan troops. The Conservatives, under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, were backed by the opposition Liberal Party after they adapted their motion to include greater emphasis on reconstruction and training for Afghan troops.
It also includes a firm pull-out date of December 2011. The consequences of pulling Canada's military out of Afghanistan could have a far-reaching effect or a domino effect on others Defence Minister Peter Mackay
The extension of the troops' mandate is also conditional on Nato providing 1,000 more troops, unmanned surveillance drones and helicopters to support the Canadians. They also set a firm pull-out date of December 2011.
The New Democratic Party and the Bloc Quebecois voted against the extension of the Canadian mission past February 2009.
The motion was treated as a confidence vote in the government. Had it not been passed, it would have triggered early parliamentary elections.
Increasing combatIncreasing combat
In parliamentary debate on the vote last month, Defence Minister Peter Mackay urged MPs to support the motion. In parliamentary debate on the vote last month, Defence Minister Peter Mackay had urged MPs to support the motion.
"The consequences of pulling Canada's military out of Afghanistan could have a far-reaching effect or a domino effect on others," he said."The consequences of pulling Canada's military out of Afghanistan could have a far-reaching effect or a domino effect on others," he said.
"If we were to pack up and leave Afghanistan, why wouldn't other nations follow suit?""If we were to pack up and leave Afghanistan, why wouldn't other nations follow suit?"
The Liberals have said they will support the motion but the other opposition parties, the New Democratic Party and the Bloc Quebecois, have said they will vote against any extension of the mission. Canada's role in the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) is becoming increasingly controversial at home.
Canada's role in the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force is becoming increasingly controversial at home.
Eighty soldiers and one diplomat have been killed as the mission's original role of reconstruction has become increasingly aimed at fighting Taleban and al-Qaeda insurgents in volatile Kandahar province.Eighty soldiers and one diplomat have been killed as the mission's original role of reconstruction has become increasingly aimed at fighting Taleban and al-Qaeda insurgents in volatile Kandahar province.