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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Obama underlines al-Qaeda threat | Obama underlines al-Qaeda threat |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama has urged better use of Nato resources in Afghanistan, saying al-Qaeda is a greater threat to Europe than to the US. | |
| Speaking before a Nato summit, Mr Obama said the US wanted to see Europe with stronger defences, as it wanted to be a partner rather than a patron to Europe. | Speaking before a Nato summit, Mr Obama said the US wanted to see Europe with stronger defences, as it wanted to be a partner rather than a patron to Europe. |
| However, Nato's secretary general said draft Afghanistan laws violated human rights, hindering involvement. | However, Nato's secretary general said draft Afghanistan laws violated human rights, hindering involvement. |
| A massive French-German security operation is in place for the summit. | A massive French-German security operation is in place for the summit. |
| Mr Obama said he and French President Nicolas Sarkozy had discussed Afghanistan. | Mr Obama said he and French President Nicolas Sarkozy had discussed Afghanistan. |
| "It's not just a matter of more resources, but more effectively using the resources we have," Mr Obama said. | "It's not just a matter of more resources, but more effectively using the resources we have," Mr Obama said. |
| Obama: We want strong allies in Europe | Obama: We want strong allies in Europe |
| He thanked France for leadership regarding Afghanistan. | He thanked France for leadership regarding Afghanistan. |
| "France recognises that having al-Qaeda operate safe havens that can be used to launch attacks is a threat not just to the United States but to Europe. | "France recognises that having al-Qaeda operate safe havens that can be used to launch attacks is a threat not just to the United States but to Europe. |
| "In fact it is probably more likely that al-Qaeda would be able to launch a serious terrorist attack in Europe than in the United States because of proximity. | "In fact it is probably more likely that al-Qaeda would be able to launch a serious terrorist attack in Europe than in the United States because of proximity. |
| "This is not an American mission, this is a Nato mission, this is an international mission." | "This is not an American mission, this is a Nato mission, this is an international mission." |
| Mr Obama flew in from London, where he attended the G20 summit. | Mr Obama flew in from London, where he attended the G20 summit. |
| After meeting Mr Sarkozy in Strasbourg, he is due to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Baden-Baden. | After meeting Mr Sarkozy in Strasbourg, he is due to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Baden-Baden. |
| The Nato secretary general said it could be difficult to persuade European countries to contribute more in Afghanistan operations because of planned Afghan laws which he says violate human rights. | The Nato secretary general said it could be difficult to persuade European countries to contribute more in Afghanistan operations because of planned Afghan laws which he says violate human rights. |
| Jaap de Hoop Scheffer was talking about a planned law that, among other things, sanctions rape within marriage. | Jaap de Hoop Scheffer was talking about a planned law that, among other things, sanctions rape within marriage. |
| NATO: KEY MOMENTS Founded 1949, largely to block Soviet expansion into EuropeTwenty-six member states who vow to defend each otherMilitarily dominated by the USActed in non-member state for first time in 1995 - implementing military aspects of Bosnia peace accordOperated outside Europe for first time in 2003 - in Afghanistan New doctrine for new threats | NATO: KEY MOMENTS Founded 1949, largely to block Soviet expansion into EuropeTwenty-six member states who vow to defend each otherMilitarily dominated by the USActed in non-member state for first time in 1995 - implementing military aspects of Bosnia peace accordOperated outside Europe for first time in 2003 - in Afghanistan New doctrine for new threats |
| He told the BBC: "How can I defend this, and how can the British defend this, when our boys and girls are dying there in defence of universal values, and here is a law that fundamentally violates human rights. | He told the BBC: "How can I defend this, and how can the British defend this, when our boys and girls are dying there in defence of universal values, and here is a law that fundamentally violates human rights. |
| "That worries me greatly." | "That worries me greatly." |
| France last month announced it would be fully re-integrated into Nato. | France last month announced it would be fully re-integrated into Nato. |
| For decades it has stood at a distance from the alliance, taking part in military operations but not in its central planning and decision-making. | For decades it has stood at a distance from the alliance, taking part in military operations but not in its central planning and decision-making. |
| On the issue of wider defence, Mr Obama said: "We would like to see Europe have much more robust capabilities." | On the issue of wider defence, Mr Obama said: "We would like to see Europe have much more robust capabilities." |
| He added: "We're looking to be partners with Europe, and the more capable they are defensively, the more we can act in concert on the shared challenges we face." | He added: "We're looking to be partners with Europe, and the more capable they are defensively, the more we can act in concert on the shared challenges we face." |
| Violent protests | Violent protests |
| French police were still holding more than 100 of the 300 people arrested on Thursday when masked protesters smashed bus shelters and burnt rubbish bins. | French police were still holding more than 100 of the 300 people arrested on Thursday when masked protesters smashed bus shelters and burnt rubbish bins. |
| Some 25,000 French police are set to patrol protests which could attract tens of thousands of demonstrators. | Some 25,000 French police are set to patrol protests which could attract tens of thousands of demonstrators. |
| Several hundred German soldiers are at two sites where activists are expected. | Several hundred German soldiers are at two sites where activists are expected. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYNato came into existence in a period when Cold War hostilities had become quite strong. What's the meaning of its existence in today's world?Deboshree, Delhi Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYNato came into existence in a period when Cold War hostilities had become quite strong. What's the meaning of its existence in today's world?Deboshree, Delhi Send us your comments |
| The German town of Kehl and the resort of Baden-Baden are also hosting Nato events for the alliance's 60th-anniversary summit. | The German town of Kehl and the resort of Baden-Baden are also hosting Nato events for the alliance's 60th-anniversary summit. |
| Protests have already begun, with police in Strasbourg firing tear gas and rubber bullets as they forced a crowd back on Thursday. | Protests have already begun, with police in Strasbourg firing tear gas and rubber bullets as they forced a crowd back on Thursday. |
| Groups of youths, many wearing hoods or scarves, walked through a suburb of the city carrying banners saying: "Stop repression in London and Strasbourg". | Groups of youths, many wearing hoods or scarves, walked through a suburb of the city carrying banners saying: "Stop repression in London and Strasbourg". |
| Bus stops and vehicles were vandalised, shop windows smashed and a barricade put up on one street. | Bus stops and vehicles were vandalised, shop windows smashed and a barricade put up on one street. |
| An eyewitness who asked not to be named told the BBC that riot vans and water cannon had been seen heading towards the protesters' official camp in Ganzau, south of the city. | An eyewitness who asked not to be named told the BBC that riot vans and water cannon had been seen heading towards the protesters' official camp in Ganzau, south of the city. |
| New leader | New leader |
| At the talks, the state leaders are expected to consider relations with Russia and possibly announce a new secretary general. | At the talks, the state leaders are expected to consider relations with Russia and possibly announce a new secretary general. |
| The current secretary general steps down at the end of July. | The current secretary general steps down at the end of July. |
| Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen is the frontrunner, but Turkey has expressed opposition to his appointment, based on his stance over the Danish publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in 2006, and the broadcasting of a Kurdish TV station in Denmark. | Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen is the frontrunner, but Turkey has expressed opposition to his appointment, based on his stance over the Danish publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in 2006, and the broadcasting of a Kurdish TV station in Denmark. |
| Speaking in London hours before the summit began in Strasbourg, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "I look at [his candidacy] negatively." | Speaking in London hours before the summit began in Strasbourg, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "I look at [his candidacy] negatively." |
| Are you Strasbourg or Baden-Baden? Are you planning to take part in demonstrations? Send us your views on the Nato summit using the form below. | Are you Strasbourg or Baden-Baden? Are you planning to take part in demonstrations? Send us your views on the Nato summit using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |