Nato to train Iraqi armed forces

Iraq's government had made an urgent appeal for help with training

Leaders of the 26-member Nato military alliance have agreed to offer training to the security forces of Iraq's new interim government.

The move was backed at a meeting of the alliance's heads of government in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

But it falls well short of US hopes that Nato would assume a major military role in Iraq.

And French President Jacques Chirac repeated his opposition to a Nato role inside the country.

Meanwhile, Turkish police clashed with hundreds of anti-war protesters near the summit venue.

Later on Monday, a small device exploded in front of a building used by the Turkish defence ministry in the capital, Ankara.

Initial reports suggested the bomb was a small explosion known as a percussion or blast bomb.

No injuries have so far been reported.

Nato schedule unclear

Nato's decision to support the Iraqi military came hours after the US transferred power in the country to the Iraqi administration.

In pictures: Summit violence

However, a statement issued by the alliance did not clarify the number of instructors to be deployed and the timing of the operation.

It is also unclear whether the training will be done inside or outside Iraq. Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said later that the training could be carried out in-country or elsewhere.

Nato's offer of help followed an urgent request from interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.

"We have decided today to offer Nato's assistance to the government of Iraq with the training of its security forces," the Nato statement said.

"We therefore also encourage nations to contribute to the training of the Iraqi armed forces."

The statement also offered support to Iraq's new interim government, and condemned "terrorist attacks" in the country.

Chirac critical

Correspondents say the vagueness of the statement reflects the fact that member countries such as France - a key opponent of the US-led invasion of Iraq last year - were said to be reluctant to get too heavily involved.

Nato to boost Afghan force

"I do not believe it is (Nato's) mission to intervene in Iraq," Mr Chirac told a news conference, later on Monday.

He said a formal Nato presence in Iraq would "not be in keeping" with the decision taken by alliance leaders earlier.

Mr Chirac said that having a Nato presence inside Iraq would be "misunderstood" and the negative impact would be "undoubtedly much greater" than the benefits.

Sixteen member nations have sent troops individually to join coalition forces in Iraq.

Nato has also agreed to the expansion of its operations in Afghanistan.

Its peacekeeping force will be increased to 10,000 troops during the planned September elections period.

It also agreed, as expected, to wind up the Nato peacekeeping mission in Bosnia-Hercegovina at the end of the year and to hand it over to the European Union.

The Nato-led Stabilisation Force (S-For) was deployed in Bosnia in 1995 after a US-brokered peace deal ended the war in the former Yugoslav republic.

The BBC's diplomatic correspondent, Jonathan Marcus, who is in Istanbul, says the summit will also begin a fundamental debate about the way Nato goes about funding and organising its military operations.

Petrol bombs

As Monday's unrest broke out in Istanbul, police used batons, tear gas and water cannon to stop hundreds of protesters from approaching the conference centre in the centre of the city where the Nato leaders are meeting.

Protesters threw petrol bombs and stones as they clashed with security forces about three kilometres (two miles) from a barricaded zone surrounding the venue.

Twenty-six police officers and a number of protesters were injured, Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah said.

CNN-Turk television said a large number of protesters were detained.

The leaders at the summit include US President George W Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac.

A huge security operation was launched ahead of the summit involving 20,000 police officers.

Warplanes are patrolling the skies of Istanbul and Turkish commandos are patrolling the Bosphorus in boats armed with machine guns.

The disruption has been so severe that many large companies have told employees to stay at home on Monday and Tuesday.