NATO defends US relations

The NATO announcement was made after talks between Mr Powell and NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.

Later he attended a press conference with the NATO Secretary-General, Lord Robertson.

Responding to criticism that relations between NATO's European members and the new US administration have become strained, Lord Robertson said the alliance remained the cornerstone of European defence.

Washington has expressed concern at plans for a European rapid reaction force which could work independently of NATO.

Lord Robertson said it was right that Europe had the ability to act in areas where NATO as a whole was not engaged. Some European governments, in turn, are critical of plans by Washington to develop a new anti-missile defence system.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service