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Canadians protest war in Afghanistan, call for troop pullout

MONTREAL (AFP) - Canadians protested in numerous cities across the country Saturday to call for the return of their soldiers from Afghanistan, local media and protest organizers reported.

"The people of Canada grow ever more upset with this war and are calling for our troops to be brought home alive," said Bob Ages of the Canadian Peace Alliance, which organized protests in 22 cities.

About 300 people demonstrated in Montreal beginning at mid-day, according to Radio Canada.

"The global movement that erupted around the Iraq war is growing again to challenge the occupation of Afghanistan and the so-called War on Terror," Ages said in a statement.

Canada has a contingent of 2,500 soldiers deployed in southern Afghanistan, and 71 Canadians have died in the country since the mission began in 2002.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently reiterated his support for the mission up through 2011.

But the mission has currently an official expiration date of February 2009.