Canada says Taliban direct assaults growing more rare

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan are launching fewer direct attacks on Canadian troops because they suffer heavy casualties from such operations, a senior officer said on Tuesday.

Canada has 2,500 troops in the southern city of Kandahar as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. So far 78 Canadian soldiers have died in Afghanistan.

"Fewer direct engagements against ISAF and Afghan national security forces have occurred as the Taliban continue to suffer heavy losses any time they engage directly," he said.

The best hope for Prime Minister Stephen Harper seems to be striking a deal with the official opposition Liberals, who say the troops can stay longer as long as they withdraw from combat missions. The military says this is not a viable option.

Atkinson said data showed the Taliban were only a major problem in 10 percent of Afghanistan's districts and tried to play down gloomy comments by some international observers who say the mission is in real trouble.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Rob Wilson)