Canada ends combat mission in Afghanistan (AFP)



Afghan officials stand at attention alongside ISAF troops during a handover ceremony from Canadian to US forces at Kandahar airbase as Canada ended its combat mission in Afghanistan after nine years.(AFP/Shah Marai)AFP - Canada ended its nine-year combat mission in Afghanistan on Thursday, closing the curtain after the deaths of 157 troops and signalling the start of further American and NATO withdrawals later this year.