OTTAWA, April 24 (UPI) -- The Canadian parliament defeated a motion Tuesday to set a February 2009 date for withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan.
The vote was 150-134, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. The motion was backed by the Liberal Party and opposed by the Conservatives.
The New Democratic Party, which wants Canadian forces withdrawn immediately, voted with the Conservatives.
"We think it's wrong," said Jack Layton, leader of the NDP. "It's two years too long for a mission that is wrong for Canada and is not going to produce a military success."
Denis Coderre, who sponsored the motion, said he and his Liberal colleagues do not trust the Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper on a promised 2009 withdrawal date because Canada has not given NATO official notice of its plans. He said the military also is buying equipment that appears to be for use in Afghanistan.
