Canada votes to extend Afghan mission

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TORONTO, Mar 14 (AP): Parliament voted Thursday to extend Canada's mission in Afghanistan to 2011, provided NATO supplies more troops and equipment to back up its forces in the volatile south.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government has been under growing pressure to withdraw Canada's 2,500 troops as the death toll has mounted, now at 80 Canadian soldiers and a diplomat. The mission was set to expire in February 2009.
But the minority Conservative government and opposition Liberals agreed last month to vote together on the motion, which passed 198-77. Liberals backed the extension after Harper promised the mission would increase its focus on training and reconstruction.
Conservatives had declared the motion a confidence vote, which would have triggered early elections if it failed.
US Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins applauded the vote and said the NATO ultimatum is appropriate.