Dozens of anti-war demonstrators picketed Saturday across the street from the U.S. consulate in Toronto to condemn NATO talks on the future of the Afghan mission ahead of the NATO summit in Chicago, which begins Sunday.
The NATO mission in Afghanistan is expected to be centre stage when leaders from 60 countries gather to discuss the war in Afghanistan and other international security issues.
The protesters said they’re afraid that leaders at the summit will approve a plan that would keep foreign troops, including Canadian forces, in Afghanistan longer than originally scheduled.
“Rather than be a strong supporter of the occupation, I would like to see Canada strongly opposed to the U.S.-Afghan strategic partnership agreement,” said Ali Ibrahimi of Afghans for Peace, one of the groups involved in the rally.
“I imagine a Canada that can be successful, be affluent and have influence in the world without the need to support injustice, to support people dying. So I would like our government to leas.”
The demonstrators urged Ottawa to call back the soldiers now deployed on a training mission to the war-torn nation.
Several protests have already taken place in Chicago ahead of the summit, but the main one is set to coincide with the start of the meeting on Sunday.
Photos: SA; Text from http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/05/19/pol-nato-summit-canada-protests.html
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