07 February 2004	Saturday	15 Zilhaj 1424

MUNICH, Feb 6: The United States pressed its Nato allies on Friday to take a larger role in both Afghanistan and Iraq, setting aside their bitter divisions over the invasion of Iraq.

Nato defense ministers agreed at an informal meeting here to a modest increase in the scope of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, officials said.

The United States and some allies also suggested that Nato assume command of a multinational division in Iraq after a transfer of sovereignty, but left it open for discussion.

"My impression, and obviously everyone can have their own impression, is that the health of the alliance is good, that the relationship between the United States and North America and the European countries is good," US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said.

Nato's new Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the alliance had "a difficult year." "I know there have been differences on Iraq, but everybody is inclined and wants to look ahead now, not to look back," he added.

The push for a larger Nato role comes amid mounting pressure on the US military as it struggles to pacify Iraq while preparing to hand over sovereignty to an as yet undefined transitional government.

"The United States believes Nato can and should play a larger role in both Afghanistan and Iraq," Rumsfeld said at a news conference here.

"We discussed ways Nato could further contribute to post conflict stabilization and help the Iraqi people as they assume responsibility for their future, and begin the difficult task of building a free society from what's left of Saddam Hussein's tyranny," he said.

A senior US official said there was an "emerging consensus" that before the June summit in Istanbul several Nato countries would formally propose putting a Polish-Spanish division under Nato command.

Spain, in particular, wants the division brought under Nato before it assumes command from Poland in June, according to alliance sources.

Nato currently provides logistics support for the division, but the divisions within the alliance over the war have stood in the way of a broader Nato role.

A Nato official said the discussions opened the way for more detailed discussion and planning for such a move. On Afghanistan, several countries offered to take part in the fielding of five more provincial reconstruction teams under ISAF.

De Hoop Scheffer would not say what countries stepped forward, where the teams would be deployed and when. Offers came from Sweden and Norway, Italy, Britain, Turkey and the Netherlands for five teams, which vary in size from about 80 to 200 people, a senior US official said.

Nato has had trouble getting member countries to commit resources to the teams, and alliance commanders are wary of fielding units unless they are fully ready to operate in a dangerous environment.

Rumsfeld however suggested ISAF could be expanded in phases, leading ultimately to a takeover of all military operations in Afghanistan. -Reuters