Bush seeks Nato allies’ help on Iraq

Fortified by his United Nations victory, United States President George Bush called on Wednesday for Nato allies to assume a greater role in US-led efforts to stabilise Iraq and bring democracy there.

“We will work with out Nato friends to at least continue the role that now exists and hopefully expand it somewhat,” Bush said as he met in Georgia with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a staunch backer of the war.

But even with unanimous UN Security Council backing for a US-British resolution paving the way for the June 30 handover of political power, Bush acknowledged that alliance members might not send troops.

“There’s going to be some constraints, obviously. A lot of Nato countries are not in a position to commit any more troops; we fully understand that,” he said.

Although the US, Britain and most of Nato’s 26 members have troops in Iraq, the alliance has only a limited formal role in the country. Nato officials have said they had enough on their hands with Afghanistan.

“The key next step in this is going to be for the new Iraqi government to sit down with a multinational force and work out how, over time, the Iraqi capability for security can be established and built up,” said Blair.

Both leaders hailed the UN Security Council’s 15-0 vote on Tuesday approving a resolution aimed at setting the stage for the June 30th handover of sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government.

“The crucial thing now is the people of Iraq know they’ve got the whole of the international community on [their] side, for Iraq is a stable and democratic country,” said Blair.

“And the terrorists and the fanatics and the extremists who are trying to stop this democracy happening know they’ve got the whole of the world against them, and that’s the key thing,” he added.

Resolution 1546 does not set a precise timetable for the withdrawal of US-led troops. Washington has roughly 140 000 soldiers there, while Britain has the second-largest contingent with about 8 900. — Sapa-AFP