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Nato 'to ease Afghan troop rules' Nato 'to ease Afghan troop rules'
(about 7 hours later)
Nato leaders at a summit in Latvia have agreed to relax restrictions on how their troops are used in Afghanistan.Nato leaders at a summit in Latvia have agreed to relax restrictions on how their troops are used in Afghanistan.
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. France and Germany have made small adjustments, but are not prepared to move troops to the south, where Nato faces fierce fighting with the Taleban.
Earlier, US President George W Bush berated Nato members, calling on them to accept "difficult assignments". But the Dutch, Romanians and smaller nations such as Slovenia and Luxembourg have agreed to ease curbs on their troop deployment against the militants.
The summit is to continue on Wednesday with discussion of military requests for more troops to fight insurgents. US President George W Bush called on Nato to accept "difficult assignments".
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. Violence has risen to heights not seen since the toppling of the Taleban.
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. In fresh violence two Nato soldiers were killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Logar province on Tuesday. The nationalities of the victims 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.
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.
Tentative progressTentative progress
There were tentative promises of more troops for Afghanistan after a two-hour working dinner on Tuesday evening devoted entirely to the issue. Details of the agreement to relax restrictions are due to be announced shortly.
They follow 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
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.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.
Commanders have requested 2,500 extra troops for the battle in southern Afghanistan.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. Earlier, President Bush called on Nato not to undermine the effort in Afghanistan.
Nato's secretary general wants more troops for AfghanistanPreviously their troops have been restricted by agreements limiting the areas they could be sent to. "For Nato to succeed, its commanders must have the resources and flexibility they need to do their jobs," he said.
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.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 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.
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.
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.
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.
New membersNew members
The summit is also expected to debate Nato's continuing role as a military alliance in the 21st Century. The two-day summit, the first Nato meeting in an ex-Soviet state, will conclude after discussions about Nato's role 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". 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.
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