Nato urged to increase Iraq role

Powell said Nato should do more in Iraq

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has called on Nato members to take on a greater role in post-war Iraq, saying stability in the country is critical.

"We urge the Alliance to examine how it might do more to support peace and stability in Iraq," Mr Powell said, in prepared remarks to Nato ministers.

Sixteen of Nato's 19 members already belong to the US-led coalition in Iraq.

Disputes between Germany, France and the US over the invasion caused one of the worst crises in Nato history.

The BBC's Emma Jane Kirby says that Mr Powell's appeal at a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels is the first time since the war that the US has pressed the alliance for help in Iraq.

The Alliance must prepare itself to take on new roles and missions where necessary George Robertson

At present, Nato provides only low-level and indirect support to the Polish-led troops multinational force in central Iraq.

Mr Powell's call was echoed by Nato chief George Robertson.

"The Alliance must continue to help Nato countries who take on leadership roles in Iraq, and prepare itself to take on new roles and missions where necessary," Mr Robertson said in his opening of the two-day talks.

EU defence row

At the same time, Mr Powell said Washington would not back down in a row over plans by the European Union to set up an independent military cell.

"The United States cannot accept independent EU structures that duplicate existing Nato capabilities," Mr Powell said.

The row over EU's defence initiative has been simmering since last April, when France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg unveiled plans for a military planning structure outside Nato.

At last week's talks of EU foreign ministers in Naples, Britain, France and Germany said they had come up with a draft deal on defence which would shore up EU military capabilities without undermining the primacy of Nato.

Correspondents say Mr Powell's strongly-worded comments are surprising because earlier in the week US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld took a much less confrontational stance.