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Nato denies Georgia and Ukraine Nato denies Georgia and Ukraine
(20 minutes later)
Nato has confirmed it will not offer membership to Georgia or Ukraine but agreed to review the decision on the ex-Soviet republics in December. Nato has confirmed it will not yet offer membership to Georgia or Ukraine but agreed to review the decision on the ex-Soviet republics in December.
The alliance also said it would not invite Macedonia to join amid protests from Greece over Macedonia's name.The alliance also said it would not invite Macedonia to join amid protests from Greece over Macedonia's name.
But Nato confirmed that Balkan neighbours Albania and Croatia would be asked to join the club. But at a summit in Romania, Nato said Balkan neighbours Albania and Croatia would be asked to join the alliance.
France's Nicolas Sarkozy announced at the summit in Romania hundreds of extra French troops for Afghanistan. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that hundreds of extra troops would be sent to Afghanistan.
Nato leaders also agreed to fully endorse US plans to build a missile defense system in Eastern Europe. On the sidelines of the meeting, US and Czech officials reached agreement on the siting of a missile defence radar on Czech territory, a suggestion that has angered Russia.
'Disappointment'
The announcements came after a night of diplomatic wrangling over new members which poisoned the summit atmosphere, says the BBC's Jonathan Marcus in Bucharest.
US President George W Bush had called for Georgia and Ukraine to be allowed to join.US President George W Bush had called for Georgia and Ukraine to be allowed to join.
But the move was opposed by Germany and France and effectively blocked, since Nato must agree unanimously on new members.But the move was opposed by Germany and France and effectively blocked, since Nato must agree unanimously on new members.
Macedonian officials said the rejection was a "huge disappointment" that would undermine stability in the Balkans.Macedonian officials said the rejection was a "huge disappointment" that would undermine stability in the Balkans.
Georgian diplomats earlier said the expected "no" would be a victory for Russia, which has voiced concerns at Nato's eastward expansion.Georgian diplomats earlier said the expected "no" would be a victory for Russia, which has voiced concerns at Nato's eastward expansion.
The BBC's Jonathan Marcus in Bucharest says the invitations for Albania and Croatia are a damage limitation exercise after the summit atmosphere was poisoned by the diplomatic wrangling. US calls for Macedonia to join were opposed by Greece, which has a northern province that is also called Macedonia.
It contended that the former Yugoslav republic's insistence on being known as Macedonia implied a territorial claim.