Fraser wraps up mission in southern Afghanistan

The move -- a scheduled rotational command change -- completes a deadly eight months for Brig.-Gen. David Fraser in the most volatile region of Afghanistan. He said the military has much more work to do before stability is brought to the country.

"There is an Afghan proverb: 'A might river is made of many single drops,'" Fraser said during the handover ceremony. "In our short time here it is hard not to see ourselves as single drops with no river in sight."

Fraser has commanded about 9,500 NATO forces -- mainly British, Canadian and Dutch troops -- in southern Afghanistan.

He added that some progress has been made under his leadership, pointing out that new roads have been built and canals and schools have been constructed.

However, the toll has been high. Forty-two Canadians soldiers and one diplomat have been killed since 2002.

Fraser conceded the job is far from being complete and many Afghans are still waiting for help. The assistance they need, he said, is dependent on more nations contributing troops to Afghanistan to help fight the Taliban so that reconstruction and aid efforts can proceed.

Retired major-general Lewis MacKenzie, who visited Afghanistan on a fact-finding trip, said NATO needs to send thousands of additional troops to succeed in its mission.

"The commander is only asking for 2,500 more. If I was him -- maybe I wouldn't last too long -- I would be asking for 40,000 more," he said.

Maj.-Gen. Ton Van Loon of the Netherlands now takes over for Fraser in southern Afghanistan and will command six provinces for half a year. Fraser will also hand over authority of the Canadian contingent to Brig.-Gen. Tim Grant.

Fraser will be heading home to Edmonton, where he will join his wife Poppie, their two sons, and an Akita dog named Seiko.

The Wednesday handover may mark a change in NATO's strategy in the country, said CTV's Steve Chao, reporting from Kandahar. Under Fraser, the coalition forces have been focused on fighting, routing out Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan.

Chao said the next few months will prove crucial for NATO troops. Top officials believe it is vital that the coalition proves that NATO can restore stability and improve the lives of ordinary Afghans.

If that doesn't happen, NATO expects the insurgency to gain strength next spring when the fighting season resumes.

Suicide bomber strikes convoy

Meanwhile, just hours after the Wednesday handover was complete, a suicide bomber attacked a NATO convoy just outside Kandahar, Chao said.

The attack occurred about 12 kilometres west of Kandahar city.

"It's unclear at this point how many casualties or injuries there are, but we understand that this was not a Canadian convoy," Chao said.

With a report by CTV's Steve Chao in Kandahar