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Canadian PM Makes Surprise Visit to Troops in Afghanistan

Posted on: Monday, 13 March 2006, 09:00 CST

Canadian PM makes surprise visit to troops in Afghanistan

OTTAWA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a surprise visit Sunday to Canadian troops stationed in Afghanistan, CBC television reported.

"We want to make sure they understand their government and the population is behind them," Harper said in remarks from the southern city of Kandahar broadcast over CBC television.

The surprise visit is aimed at showing support for Canadian troops deployed there as part of an international force.

Harper, who is accompanied by Defense Minister Gordon O'Connor and General Rick Hillier, the Defense Staff chief, left Ottawa Saturday for his two-day visit, and arrived by military aircraft.

Canada deployed 2,300 troops in Kandahar last month and took command of coalition forces hunting down militants from the ousted Taliban regime, including al-Qaida's terror network.

Ten Canadian soldiers and a senior Canadian diplomat have been killed in accidents or attacks during the mission, which started in late 2001 after the United States ousted the Taliban.

Canadian troops face increasing attacks in the restive Kandahar region as they took over from the region from the Americans.

With casualties mounting daily, a new poll shows Canadians are sharply divided about the country's stepped-up military combat mission in Afghanistan.

Fifty-two percent of Canadians thought the 2,300 Canadian Forces troops deployed to Kandahar are on a vital mission and should stay the course, while 48 percent thought the troops should be brought home as soon as possible, according to the IpsosReid poll conducted for CanWest News Service and Global News.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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