Canada: Afghanistan situation dire

Canada's top commander in Afghanistan says the country is in a "serious, desperate situation" which constitutes a major emergency.

"It's not to sugar coat anything, and it's certainly not to make the mission seem better than it is. It's a serious, desperate situation. It's a major emergency," Brigadier-General Jonathan Vance, Canada's top commander on the ground said in an interview aired on Wednesday.

In the face of declining public support for the Afghan mission he said, "(I) ... try and put all of that into some sort of context such that people — whether they believe we should be here or not — at least they understand."

Over 130 Canadian soldiers have died so far in Afghanistan. A recent poll shows more than half of the Canadians oppose their country's involvement in the war.

Some 2,700 Canadian troops are currently stationed in southern Afghanistan.

Canada's Parliament voted last year to extend the mission to 2011 from the original 2009 end date.