By The Canadian Press

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Canada's top general in Afghanistan says he plans to continue the model-village approach pioneered by his predecessor.

Brig. Gen. Daniel Menard says coalition forces are likely to provide Canada with enough additional resources to focus both on Kandahar city and rural areas of the province.

Menard took over last week from Brig. Gen. Jonathan Vance, who experimented with concentrating Canadian troops in districts southwest of the city.

Vance's strategy had met with much praise from Canada's NATO allies.

Menard announced last week he wanted to increase force levels in Kandahar city, raising concerns he would not have enough resources to sustain operations in rural Kandahar.

Canada has 2,800 troops based in Afghanistan.