Anti-war protesters held rallies in 20 cities across Canada Saturday against the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

About 1,000 protesters showed up at the rally in Toronto, the biggest city. They shouted "End it, don't extend it," in reference to Canada's military mission in war-torn Afghanistan.

Leader of the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) Jack Layton joined the demonstration.

"Canada should be on a path towards peace in Afghanistan," he told reporters at the rally.

"We should be a voice calling for the end to this kind of conflict, but instead our government is prolonging it -- and that' s wrong," he said.

The protests come after the Canadian Parliament voted in favor of a government motion to extend the country's Afghan mission until December 2011, from February 2009.

The ruling Conservatives and biggest opposition Liberals voted for the motion, while the NDP and Bloc Quebecois opposed the extension.

The protests also marked the upcoming fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion on March 19.

Canada has 2,500 troops deployed in southern Afghanistan as part of NATO-led forces fighting against the Taliban militants. Eighty Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in Afghanistan since 2002.

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2008)