OTTAWA — Canada's military is reluctant to take up peacekeeping operations in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, because senior brass don't believe it's as "sexy'' as fighting the U.S.-led war on terror, a Liberal senator charged Tuesday.

Throughout all of Africa, there are 64 Canadian staff officers, ceasefire observers and military trainers serving in three operations --  a contribution that was termed "a disgrace'' by Liberal Senator Peter Stollery.

He made the remarks following a presentation to the Senate Foreign Affairs committee by the country's top soldier, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier.

"I think that military does not want to go to Africa,'' Stollery, the committee chairman, said Tuesday.

He was unwilling to blame the Conservative government, saying the defence minister and the prime minister rely the advice of their chief of defence staff.

Stollery was asked why he believes the military is resisting becoming more involved in Africa.

"It's a good question; maybe because their buddies at NATO aren't there,'' he replied.

Canadian soldiers are currently serving on United Nations missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan.  A mission in Sierra Leone is currently winding down, said Hillier.

Stollery, who regularly travels to Africa, said he's been asked repeatedly by African diplomats and government officials for Canada to contribute more military support for peace and stabilization operations.

Hillier did not stop to answer media questions after the meeting, but did tell the committee that the Canadian military is "tapped out'' in terms of available bodies for overseas assignments.

"We do not have the resources to put in every single spot around the world that need our help desperately,'' the general replied tersely.

"We are now at the extreme limits of what we can contribute anywhere. There are many poor places around this world that need desperate help from a whole variety of countries and obviously Canada is not the sole source to provide that help. Maybe some of those other countries have to step up to those other places.''

The bulk of Canada's 4,000 troops serving overseas are seeing combat in southern Afghanistan.

New Democrats, who are opposed to the war, have called for Canadians to be pulled out of frontline duty and to return to what they consider to be the army's traditional role of peacekeeping. NDP Leader Jack Layton has specifically called for a beefed up commitment in Sudan's Darfur region. 

Liberal Senator Romeo Dallaire, who commanded UN peacekeepers during the Rwandan genocide, disagreed with Hillier's claim that the army is stretched beyond its ability to respond to the crisis in Africa.

He said he believes the army could come up with at least 600 troops for mission in war-torn Darfur.

While Dallaire agreed with the assessment that Canada's contribution was a disgrace, he criticized Stollery for what he called scandalous language that insulted people in uniform.

"Nothing is sexy in war,'' he said. "The whole concept of war is perverse and the reason we're in one area and not other is because political decisions have been taken.''

Decades of neglecting the Canadian military are at the root of the dilemma, said Dallaire.

"The question that should be asked is how come we don't have the capability to respond to a Darfur,'' he said.