Former Liberal deputy prime minister John Manley said he is not in the running to become the UN's new "super envoy" for Afghanistan, despite a newspaper report that says Ottawa is considering him for the post.

"All I would say is that I am not a candidate and I have not consented to my government advocating for me to take on this responsibility," Manley said Wednesday in an interview with Reuters.

Manley's comments follow a report in the Globe and Mail that, according to sources, he is being considered for the job of overall international co-ordinator of aid, government and economic projects in Afghanistan.

British diplomat Paddy Ashdown had initially accepted the position but backed out because of objections from Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper had recently appointed Manley to lead a panel tasked with making recommendations on the Canadian combat mission in Afghanistan, which is set to expire in February 2009.

In its report, the panel said Canada must remain in Afghanistan if it hopes to achieve its goal of helping stabilize the country, but will also require about 1,000 more NATO troops and specialized equipment.

The panel recommended that the combat mission extend beyond February 2009, contingent on more support in terms of troops and equipment.

It called for an extension based on two main conditions:

• NATO provide 1,000 more troops before 2009.
• The government secure new, medium-lift helicopters and high-performance unmanned aerial vehicles for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance before that date.

Harper accepted the recommendation and introduced a confidence motion to extend Canada's combat role in Afghanistan past February 2009, a move that could trigger a federal election.