Canada opposition agrees on plan to force election

OTTAWA - Canada's three opposition parties agreed today to try to force the minority Liberal government to hold an election in February, two months before the date preferred by Prime Minister Paul Martin, the Conservative Party leader said.

Stephen Harper told reporters the three parties would back a motion in Parliament this week calling for the government to hold a February vote.

If Martin refused, the opposition parties would then quickly present a formal confidence motion to Parliament, Harper said. If all three parties backed that motion, the Liberals would be defeated and there would be an election in January.

- REUTERS