Canada's Defense Minister Gordon O' Connor has formally informed NATO that Canada is willing and able to take command of a larger military force in southern Afghanistan, local media reported Thursday.

Canada will send more troops to Afghanistan if it takes command of NATO forces in the country, the minister told the parliament Thursday.

NATO is to take over control of the region from the United States by mid-summer, and Canada wants to assume command of the entire force by 2008, the Canadian Press reported.

O'Connor said it will mean a larger commitment of troops, but only about 100 more than the 2,300 currently deployed in Afghanistan.

Most of the additional soldiers would likely be involved in non- combat roles, he was cited as saying.

The Canadian military took command of the coalition forces stationed in four southwestern Afghan provinces early this year. Canadian soldiers are also actively taking part in the U.S.-led offensive against Taliban remnants in southern Afghanistan.

Last month, Canada's parliament narrowly passed a government motion to extend the mission in Afghanistan by two years until 2009.

Source: Xinhua