PARIS — Prime Minister Paul Martin isn't ready to commit troops to Iraq despite growing pressure on world leaders to help ease violent chaos there.

"There's a limit to our resources,'' Martin said Thursday after meeting with French President Jacques Chirac during a European tour. "And that's why I'm putting the focus right now on Afghanistan, on Haiti.

"Whatever it is that we do, I really want to see us do it in an area that makes a difference.''

It's best to focus on countries where Canada's work is obviously helping than to spread efforts too thin, Martin said.

The prime minister also wants to do more in the western Darfur region of Sudan, where the United Nations says the world's worst humanitarian crisis is unfolding. About 1.2 million people have fled their villages because of attacks blamed on government-backed militias. Many others have been killed or have died in refugee camps.

Still, Canada has not forgotten Iraq, Martin said.

"We are not on the sidelines.''

His predecessor, Jean Chretien, refused to join the U.S.-led attack on Iraq last year because the invasion was not backed by the United Nations. Ottawa has committed $300 million for emergency aid and rebuilding efforts of which about $140 million has flowed.

A contingent of Canadian police officers is also offering related training for Iraqis in Jordan.

Two international meetings were held this week on how best to restore order in Iraq.

U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stressed the urgency of the situation before NATO defence ministers met in Romania. More security forces are needed before planned Iraq elections in January.

Violence erupts regularly as insurgents determined to drive out coalition forces wage a grisly campaign of kidnappings, explosions and beheadings.

"We need more equipment,'' Rumsfeld said. "We need it from NATO nations. We need it gifted.''

In Tokyo, Canadian officials were among 57 countries and international groups that wrapped up a two-day meeting Thursday vowing to speed up reconstruction projects.

Internationally, Canada is playing a "key role'' in the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan, Martin said.

Canadian troops have been on the ground there for more than two years, including about 700 currently serving in Kabul with the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF. In the past as many as 2,200 Canadians were stationed there.

More than 50 RCMP and city police officers are serving in Haiti, where violence has been endemic since an uprising resulted in the ouster of president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who fled on Feb. 29. Devastating floods from tropical storm Jeanne recently added to the misery, killing some 1,900 in the northwestern city of Gonaives and leaving 900 missing and an estimated 200,000 homeless.

Martin and Chirac also discussed overfishing -- an international problem that Martin called "a pillaging of the global commons.''

The prime minister is pushing for more global action, and plans to raise the touchy subject with the head of Spain on Friday during a governance summit in Hungary.

Martin will also run into British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He hopes to discuss the fire disaster aboard HMCS Chicoutimi -- one of four trouble-prone subs acquired by Canada from the Royal Navy in lease-to-own arrangements -- before heading back to Ottawa late Friday.

The prime minister's first major foreign tour started Monday in Russia.

At least one domestic issue was raised here Thursday.

Martin denied any impropriety when asked about Quebec Premier Jean Charest's planned November trip to Mexico for high-level trade talks. Charest is to be joined by French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin and will meet Mexican President Vicente Fox.

"Whatever will extend trade links is going to occur,'' Martin said. "But in terms of the voice of Canada internationally, let there be no doubt about it: the prime minister of Canada speaks for Canada.''

Charest's trip raised eyebrows after a diplomatic dustup involving federal Heritage Minister Liza Frulla. She made recent headlines after suggesting that her Quebec counterpart could speak in her place at international meetings.

Critics pounced on Frulla's comments as proof of special federal treatment for Quebec.