G8 aims to increase pressure on Iran

Foreign ministers from the G8, the world’s leading industrial countries, have ended a two-day meeting in Canada with a vow to pressure Iran over its nuclear program.

The issue of Iran dominated discussions on both days.

In the end, during a closing news conference in Gatineau – just across the river from Ottawa – Canadian foreign affairs minister Lawrence Cannon said the G8 ministers agreed to remain open to talks with Iran, but also called for more international pressure on Tehran to end its nuclear ambitions.

The ministers agreed that the United Nations Security Council, not the G8, is where additional sanctions against Iran should be considered.

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said she left the meeting heartened by the understanding and support of G8 countries, but with little hope Iran would change its course.

US publicly demands deployment of Canadian troops in Afghanistan

Ottawa, Mar.30 (ANI): The United States is publicly calling for Canadian troops to stay in Afghanistan past next year, sparking questions over what Canada’s role will be after the 2011 deadline for military withdrawal.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton changed course Tuesday, saying the U.S. believes it has made progress with a new strategy and hopes Canada will provide “visible” support.

She said that Canadian troops might take on a non-combat role.

“We would obviously like to see some form of support continue, because the Canadian Forces have a great reputation. They’ve worked really well with our American troops and the other members of our coalition,” The Globe and Mail quoted Clinton, as saying in an interview with CTV News before a meeting of foreign ministers from G8 countries.

“There’s all kinds of things that are possible. The military could slip more into a training role instead of a combat role, a logistics-support role instead of front-line combat,” she said, stressing that it is up to Canada to decided its way forward.

Last night, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon insisted there will be no Canadian military mission in Afghanistan after next year”s deadline, but said the government is examining what kind of roles civilian officials will play in delivering aid and development programs. (ANI)