The Canadian general who took charge of coalition troops in southern Afghanistan today said they won't fight unless they have to, but warned the Taliban that "we're going to start kicking them."

Brig.-Gen. David Fraser is now in charge of a new multinational force, including 2,200 Canadians, that will patrol six provinces in the southern part of Afghanistan, which spreads over about 220,000 square kilometres.

Fraser, in an interview with CTV's Lisa LaFlamme, warned that as more troops go into the sanctuaries where the Taliban live, including into the volatile city of Kandahar, "it will look bad."

"But in fact what we're doing is we're going into their yard," he said. "We're going to start kicking them."

However, he said the force, which also includes British, Dutch and U.S. troops, won't fight unless they have to. Fraser said they will instead focus more on helping the Afghan people, continuing the work of the U.S. Task Force Bayonet.

"My soldiers are trained to fight. But they're also trained into the humanitarian assistance and peace support, and that's our focus," he told LaFlamme.

"And we're here to work with the Afghans, to work on those non-fighting aspects, because that's the road to success. That's the road in the future to provide hope and opportunity."

In a sign of respect, Fraser asked coalition troops to take down their national flags and fly only the black-red-and-green of Afghanistan.

"This is not Canada, this is the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan," said Fraser.

"We've got to respect their cultures and traditions and be respectful that they invited us here. I think it's only fitting we fly their flag.''

A dangerous mission

Just hours after Fraser took over the coalition force, a roadside bomb went off a short distance from a Canadian convoy. No one was injured, military officials say.

The improvised explosive device, or IED, went off around 8 p.m. local time Tuesday, about 20 metres from the road along a notorious stretch of highway known as "IED Alley" to Canadian soldiers.

The Canadians returned fire with machine-guns and assault rifles.

"They put the pedal to the metal to pass the attack site," said army spokesman Maj. Marc Theriault.

The convoy had been travelling from a Canadian camp in downtown Kandahar to the larger U.S.-run military base at Kandahar airfield.

It was the latest in a string of incidents targeting Canadian troops. On Saturday, a soldier was lightly injured when rocket-propelled grenades were fired at a Canadian convoy.

U.S. commanders still in charge of the overall operations in Afghanistan have warned troops in the multinational force to expect a spike in violence in the spring and summer, especially with the build-up of troops.

"In the coming months we expect an increasingly desperate enemy will attempt to disrupt the steady progress which has been made with the Afghan people in the last four years," said Maj.-Gen. Benjamin Freakley, the head of coalition combat operations.

Fraser acknowledged that 17 American soldiers and 1,600 Afghans have died during this mission, but said the operation is a necessary one.

"But it's a worthy cause. It's an expensive cause, but to give hope and opportunity, what you and I take for granted back home, it's worth it," he said.

"I mean, this is important for Canada. This I what we believe in."

Changing insurgency

Col. Steve Noonan, head of Canada's Task Force Afghanistan, said the insurgency has changed its tactic in the southern portion of Afghanistan.

"They've changed their tactics a little bit, and what I'm saying in that regard is the use of suicide bombers," he told Canada AM Tuesday.

Suicide bombings were once rare in Afghanistan, but they are increasingly becoming the weapons of choice.

At least seven soldiers have been injured in various attacks and one Canadian diplomat died in a January bombing. Three Edmonton-based soldiers were also injured in the blast.

Despite the change in tactic, Noonan is optimistic.

"We're going to have some significant challenges to overcome over the next couple of months as the insurgency tries to take on the new guy on the block.

"But overall, the central government's ability to project its governance in the provincial regions is getting better."

As for Fraser, he said he is "imminently prepared" and "tactically astute."

"David Fraser is my man," he said. "He's got good charisma and the troops like him."

Canadian troops are already on the ground, but most of the international force is taking over from the U.S.-dominated security effort over several weeks and months.

The objective is to have NATO's International Security Assistance Force eventually take command of the region.

Canada is expected to lead the coalition operation from late February until October 2006.

With files from The Canadian Press