OTTAWA, May 5: Cindy Sheehan, a prominent anti-war activist from the United States, has urged upon the Canadian government to pull out its troops from Afghanistan.

Canadian soldiers should not be in Afghanistan, which is just a branch office of an immoral and illegal American-led war in Iraq, she said while addressing a news conference here on Thursday.

Ms Sheehan became a leading voice in the American anti-war movement since the death of her son in Iraq two years ago. She gained prominence last year after camping for days outside President George Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas, demanding answers for the invasion of Iraq.

Criticising the invasion, she said: It’s never about spreading freedom or democracy or making the world safe, it’s about lining the war profiteers pockets.

Ms Sheehan also asked Canada to offer sanctuary to deserters fleeing the US military. I am just here begging the people of Canada to force your government to allow our soldiers to have refuge up here.

Ms Sheehan pointed out that Canada became a haven for as many as 50,000 draft dodgers and deserters during the Vietnam war. She said that should happen again.

The peace movement in America has always looked up to Canada as a refuge of peace and sanity when our leaders have taken us to insane wars.

Michelle Robidoux, an organiser with the War Resisters Support Campaign, said there were about 20 deserters seeking refugee status in Canada, with perhaps several hundred others living underground.

Cindy Sheehan claimed there could be 8,000 others hiding out in the United States.

Mr Robidoux urged the Canadian government to offer a blanket welcome to all American deserters without them having to make individual refugee claims.