New general takes over command of Canadian troops in Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Canadian troops in Afghanistan are reporting to a new general today.

Brig. Gen. Daniel Menard took over command of Task Force Kandahar from Brig. Gen. Jonathan Vance at a ceremony at Kandahar Airfield.

Menard says one of his first priorities will be to increase the number of soldiers securing the city of Kandahar.

His predecessor had won praise from other coalition forces for focusing on rural villages southwest of the city.

Menard also promised to help Kandahar Governor Tooryalai Wesa deal with corruption in the province.

This comes as Hamid Karzai was sworn in for a second term as president of Afghanistan following a scandal-plague election.