Blair limits NATO role in Iraq to training

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Monday he expected any further NATO role in Iraq to be limited to training security forces, rejecting talk of a split between the United States and Europe over NATO involvement.

"I don't believe we will see further troops come through NATO," Blair told parliament. "But I hope, and if the new Iraq government wishes it, we will see assistance with training provided for the Iraqi security forces."

President Bush and French President Jacques Chirac clashed over NATO's role in Iraq at a summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations on Sea Island in Georgia last week.

Bush said he wanted NATO to be more involved in Iraq and suggested some NATO countries could send more troops. Chirac, a fervent opponent of the U.S.-led war, replied that it was not NATO's "mission" to intervene in Iraq.

Chirac remained reticent about NATO involvement even when Bush sought to clarify his earlier remarks by saying he expected NATO to train Iraqi forces rather than offer more troops.

Blair said the idea had always been that NATO soldiers would help with training. He said he did not think NATO members would oppose that role provided the request came from the Iraqi government.

"There may still be a disagreement about that, I don't know, but I don't think so," he added.

The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq split the alliance last year. Since then NATO has limited itself to providing logistical support for a Polish-led division in south-central Iraq as part of coalition occupation forces.

Source: Agencies