* Probe rejects allegations of Afghan killing, cover up
* Allegations made last year by former translator
OTTAWA, Jan 18 (Reuters) - A Canadian military probe has rejected allegations that its soldiers mistakenly shot and killed a teenage Afghan boy, then tried to cover it up, officials said on Tuesday.
An Afghan translator who used to work with the Canadian forces said last year that the shooting had occurred during a botched raid in October 2007.
The probe found a 17-year-old Afghan male had died in a Canadian-led operation in June 2007 but said he had been armed and was therefore a legitimate target.
"In the end, no evidence was found supporting any wrongdoing by Canadian Forces personnel, and no charges were laid," said Lieutenant-Colonel Gilles Sansterre, commander of the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service.
Polls show Canada's military mission to Afghanistan -- which will end later this year -- is increasingly unpopular at home. So far, 154 soldiers have died.
Canada, which has about 2,800 soldiers in Afghanistan, will set up a 950-strong force to train Afghan soldiers and police from 2011 to 2014. (Reporting by Leah Schnurr; editing by Peter Galloway)
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