OTTAWA - The House of Commons has overwhelmingly rejected an NDP motion calling for an immediate end to Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan.
Conservative, Liberal and Bloc Quebecois MPs joined forces Monday to defeat the motion by a vote of 225 to 28.
New Democrats were alone in calling for an immediate withdrawal of Canadian troops from the counter-insurgency campaign in Kandahar province.
They want Canada to redouble its commitment to development and aid instead.
Last week, the NDP formed an unlikely alliance with the Tories to shoot down a Liberal attempt to ensure that the combat mission does not drag on beyond February 2009.
That's the end of Canada's current military commitment in Afghanistan.
The New Democrats said they couldn't support the motion because they want an immediate end to the combat mission.
