Montreal, February 22, SPA -- Canadian troops would remain in Afghanistan until2011 under a proposal made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper'sminority conservative government, according to DPA. But the proposal, which has bipartisan support, would call forCanadian troops to refocus their role from combat to training thefledging Afghan security forces and reconstruction. Harper made theproposal Thursday night at a public defence-related event. The proposal and its likelihood of success diminishes thepossibility that Harper's government might fall over the Afghanistantroop issue, reported the DPA. The government still faces a rough patch over passage of thebudget, but the troop proposal shows that the Liberals andConservatives have found enough common ground to keep the country's2,500 troops in Afghanistan no matter who makes up Canada's nextgovernment. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/529453