TORONTO — Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe said he never suggested that he would try to bring down the minority Conservative government early in the new year unless the military mission is refocused.

"I didn't say we were coming with a motion in February,'' Duceppe told CTV's Question Period in an interview to be broadcast Saturday.

"There are three major issues that we disagree on and we are having very specific demands: one on fiscal imbalance, one on Kyoto and third one on Afghanistan. And I said if Stephen Harper doesn't change and doesn't come with the demands we are asking for, well, he won't have our confidence on that.''

The Bloc is fighting to regain seats that were lost to the Conservatives the January 23 election, particularly around Quebec City.

Support for the Afghanistan mission has never been as strong in Quebec as it is in other parts of Canada. And it could be affected even more in August when soldiers from the Royal 22nd Regiment from Valcartier, Que., replace those who are currently on combat duty in one of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan.

This could mean trouble for the Conservatives and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who have made it clear that they intend to honour Canada's commitment to stay in Afghanistan until 2009. Despite requests from Canada, some NATO allies in Europe are refusing to allow their soldiers to operate in the risky region where 36 Canadians have died this year.

In his speech on December 11 to the Quebec Chamber of Commerce, Duceppe said the emphasis of the Canadian force must be turned from combat to reconstruction.

"If Mr. Harper refused to make changes and remains incapable of getting better co-operation from our allies,'' he said, "we will not hesitate to withdraw our support, and if we have to, defeat this government on the Afghan issue.''

Between the time of Duceppe's speech in Quebec and his interview with CTV, Liberal leader Stephane Dion made it clear he would not support a Bloc effort to bring down the government over Afghanistan.