By IANS
Toronto : The governor of Kandahar in Afghanistan, where two suicide attacks aimed at Canadian troops killed more than a 100 people on two consecutive days, has blamed foreign soldiers for inviting the deadly bombings.
Governor Asadullah Kahlid said Monday he had warned the Canadians five times about a possible attack, but they ignored him. The deadly attacks will mount pressure on the Canadian government to bring troops back home.
The minority Conservative government is seeking opposition support to extend the 2,500-troop mission beyond the mandated date of Feb 2009. But all three opposition parties are opposed to it as Canadian casualties mount.
However, Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier said Canada would not abandon Afghanistan to Taliban terrorists.
“Canada’s commitment to the people of Afghanistan and their democratically elected government remains firm,” he said in a press release.
“Today’s sad events remind us why Canada is participating in the UN-sanctioned, NATO-led effort to help the Afghan people rebuild their lives and their country. Afghanistan cannot again become a base for international terrorism,” he added.
Though more than 100 civilians lost their lives in the two suicide attacks, Canadian troops escaped with minor injuries to four of their men.