Canada's government survives vote

The Conservative party holds 126 seats of the 308 in parliament

Canada's minority Conservative government has survived a confidence vote over its policy agenda.

The opposition NDP and Bloc Quebecois voted with the Conservatives to defeat a Liberal party amendment by 203-89.

The defeated amendment blamed the Conservatives' "inaction" for Canada failing to meet its Kyoto climate change commitments.

It also called for the military mission in Afghanistan to end by February 2009, at the end of its current mandate.

Had it passed, the amendment would have amounted to a vote of no-confidence in Prime Minister Stephen Harper and toppled the government, triggering an election.

However, political observers say the motion was written in a way to ensure its defeat because the Liberals are not ready to go to the polls.

Last week the government laid out its agenda for the parliamentary session that included promises for major tax cuts, a vote to extend the Afghan mission until at least 2011 and new crime legislation.

It also reiterated the Conservative's position that Canada cannot meet the greenhouse gas targets of the Kyoto Protocol

The Conservatives, who hold only 126 seats in the 308-seat parliament, needed the support of at least one of the three main opposition parties to see the vote through.

There will be a final confidence vote on 24 October, but the Liberals have said they will abstain from voting, meaning they will not force early elections.