OTTAWA - The top Canadian general in Afghanistan, who ordered military police to investigate him after his rifle went off unexpectedly, has been charged.
Brig.-Gen. Daniel Menard, commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan, ordered the investigation after his assault rifle went off at Kandahar Airfield on March 25.
He now has been charged with conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline.
Soldiers found guilty of accidental discharges of their weapons normally are fined.
After the rifle went off, Menard said it wasn't clear whether the weapon malfunctioned.
No one was hurt and nothing was damaged in the incident.
The military takes weapons safety seriously. Menard said he is no different from his soldiers, and that's why he ordered the investigation.
