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Bush berates hesitant Nato allies Nato 'to ease Afghan troop rules'
(about 5 hours later)
US President George W Bush has berated Nato members reluctant to send troops to Afghan hotspots, demanding they must accept "difficult assignments". Nato leaders at a summit in Latvia have agreed to relax restrictions on how their troops are used in Afghanistan.
Speaking just before a Nato meeting in Latvia, Mr Bush said members must provide the forces the alliance needs. More than 75% of the 32,000-strong force in Afghanistan will soon be allowed to be deployed anywhere in the country, alliance officials said.
Several Nato nations have caveats that keep their troops out of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan, where Taleban forces are strengthening. Earlier, US President George W Bush berated Nato members, calling on them to accept "difficult assignments".
The two-day summit began with a working dinner focused on Afghanistan. The summit is to continue on Wednesday with discussion of military requests for more troops to fight insurgents.
The difficulties of the Afghan mission are set to dominate the agenda in Riga. The two-day summit, the first Nato meeting on in an ex-Soviet state, will conclude after discussions about Nato's role in the 21st Century.
The US president, who led the campaign to topple the Taleban regime five years ago, echoed the earlier words of Nato chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. The alliance leaders will also discuss ways to enhance Nato's partnership activities, including efforts to draw countries like Japan and Australia more closely into alliance activities.
Tentative progress
There were tentative promises of more troops for Afghanistan after a two-hour working dinner on Tuesday evening devoted entirely to the issue.
See map of key Afghan flashpoints See map of key Afghan flashpoints
But the Dutchman had also sought to strike an upbeat note, saying that the Afghan operation - Nato's first outside Europe - was "mission possible", and that it might even be able to start pulling out from 2008. An alliance spokesman told the Reuters news agency that three countries had agreed to send more troops, with several more agreeing to increase funding for Afghanistan.
"We need to be frank about the risks," he said, "but we also need to avoid over-dramatising." Commanders have requested 2,500 extra troops for the battle in southern Afghanistan.
The dinner ended with agreement from France, Germany, Italy and Spain that their troops in Afghanistan could be sent to any part of the country if the circumstances demanded it.
Nato's secretary general wants more troops for AfghanistanPreviously their troops have been restricted by agreements limiting the areas they could be sent to.
President Bush had called on Nato not to undermine the effort in Afghanistan.
"For NATO to succeed, its commanders must have the resources and flexibility they need to do their jobs," he said.
Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer described the Afghan operation - Nato's first outside Europe - as "mission possible", and said that it might even be able to start pulling out from 2008.
Bearing the bruntBearing the brunt
Nato-led forces have faced fierce resistance from Taleban militants in the south of the country in recent months, where violence has risen to heights not seen since the toppling of the Taleban.Nato-led forces have faced fierce resistance from Taleban militants in the south of the country in recent months, where violence has risen to heights not seen since the toppling of the Taleban.
CAVEATS Restrict where, when and how troops can be usedGermany, France, Spain and Italy all have themCritics say they prevent Nato being flexible, and keep some troops away from danger A number of countries have refused to fight in southern AfghanistanTwo Nato soldiers were killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Logar province on Tuesday.
Two Nato soldiers were killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Logar province on Tuesday.
Another soldier and an interpreter was also injured in the incident. The nationalities of those involved have not yet been released.Another soldier and an interpreter was also injured in the incident. The nationalities of those involved have not yet been released.
Some 4,000 people are believed to have died this year in the insurgency - about a quarter of them civilians.Some 4,000 people are believed to have died this year in the insurgency - about a quarter of them civilians.
About 90% of the casualties suffered by troops serving with the Nato force have involved just four countries: the US, Britain, Canada and the Netherlands.About 90% of the casualties suffered by troops serving with the Nato force have involved just four countries: the US, Britain, Canada and the Netherlands.
Germany, France, Spain and Italy all have troops in Afghanistan but they have negotiated dozens of so-called "red cards", which were offered in exchange for their assistance in the security and reconstruction programme.
Under these terms, they do not take part in certain operations if they do not choose to.
New membersNew members
The summit is also expected to debate Nato's continuing role as a military alliance in the 21st Century.The summit is also expected to debate Nato's continuing role as a military alliance in the 21st Century.
"There are still too many messages of the Cold War in the way Nato is structured," said Mr de Hoop Scheffer, adding that partnerships with nations around the world "hold much potential"."There are still too many messages of the Cold War in the way Nato is structured," said Mr de Hoop Scheffer, adding that partnerships with nations around the world "hold much potential".
"The decisions I expect from our summit here should help us unlock this potential," he said.
Speaking in Latvia, Mr Bush said Nato would keep its doors open to new members, including Georgia and Ukraine.Speaking in Latvia, Mr Bush said Nato would keep its doors open to new members, including Georgia and Ukraine.
The US president said the US would support Georgia's bid to join Nato as long as it continued on the path of reform and that membership of the military bloc would be open to Ukraine if the people chose it.The US president said the US would support Georgia's bid to join Nato as long as it continued on the path of reform and that membership of the military bloc would be open to Ukraine if the people chose it.
Correspondents say membership for either country could further strain their relations with Moscow.Correspondents say membership for either country could further strain their relations with Moscow.
MAIN FLASHPOINTS IN AFGHANISTAN There are 32,500 Nato-led troops in AfghanistanMain troop contributors: US, (11,800), UK (6,000), Germany (2,700) Canada, (2,500) Netherlands (2,000), Italy, (1,800) and France (975) Return MAIN FLASHPOINTS IN AFGHANISTAN There are 32,500 Nato-led troops in AfghanistanMain troop contributors: US, (11,800), UK (6,000), Germany (2,700) Canada, (2,500) Netherlands (2,000), Italy, (1,800) and France (975) Return