Updated: Sat Oct. 28 2006 2:32:43 PM

CTV.ca News Staff

A group rallied in front of the U.S. Consulate in Toronto urging an end to fighting in Afghanistan and the return of Canadian troops.

Toting placards reading "Support The Troops, Bring Them Home Now" and "Stephen Harper Warmonger," protesters began a rally and march in Toronto.

The Coalition to Stop the War said Saturday's rally was one of dozens in towns and cities across the country.

"There are 37 different actions happening in Canada today, everywhere from Victoria to Halifax, all the big cities and even small towns," rally organizer Sid LaCombe said.

The coalition says four other organizations will be joining in the rallies, including:

• Canadian Peace Alliance
• Collectif Échec à la guerre
• Canadian Labour Congress
• Canadian Islamic Congress

Protesters planned to start marching at 1 p.m. Their route was to begin at the U.S. Consulate on University Avenue, move east along College Street, then go south along Yonge Street to Queen. The march will end at Moss Park near Sherbourne Street.

Click here to see a Google Map of Moss Park

Speakers in Toronto will include federal NDP leader Jack Layton, and a Canadian soldier who recently left the military.

Francisco Juarez was training to be an officer, but backed out over concerns about the mission. He believes public rallies are part of a debate about Afghanistan that "needs to be conducted in this country."

"After speaking with my family a great deal and (with) my partner, who did not support the mission in Afghanistan, and also primarily the change in direction that the Harper government ... (was) taking the Canadian mission ... I could not be part of that," Juarez told CTV Newsnet.

Layton said he believes "millions of Canadians" are questioning the military mission. He said there is a feeling across Canada that it is "unbalanced."

"Our job as citizens is to make sure we're asking them (soldiers) to do the right thing in the world," Layton said.

"And there's a growing sense that this mission is the wrong mission for Canada and that it's not helping to achieve the goals that we all have for Afghanistan."

Rally organizers hope their efforts will send a strong message to the government that troops should be brought home from the war-torn country.

They point to protests held before the U.S.-led Iraq war, saying the events helped convince the Canadian government not to get involved.

Coalition partners hope Saturday's rallies will have similar results.

With files from The Canadian Press