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Nato 'to ease Afghan troop rules' Nato split on Afghan combat curbs
(about 1 hour 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 are continuing to limit troop deployment to south Afghanistan, despite calls from George Bush to accept "difficult assignments".
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. France and Germany have agreed to small changes on how troops can be used, but will not move large numbers to the area where Nato faces a resurgent Taleban.
But the Dutch, Romanians and smaller nations such as Slovenia and Luxembourg have agreed to ease curbs on their troop deployment against the militants. But the Dutch and Romania are among those agreeing to relax such curbs.
US President George W Bush called on Nato to accept "difficult assignments". The US, UK, Canada and the Netherlands have borne the brunt of fierce fighting with the militants in the south.
See map of key Afghan flashpoints
Violence has risen to heights not seen since the toppling of the Taleban.Violence has risen to heights not seen since the toppling of the Taleban.
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.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. 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.
Tentative progress 'Clear position'
Details of the agreement to relax restrictions are due to be announced shortly.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. Nato's secretary general wants more troops for Afghanistan
href="#anchor" class="bodl">See map of key Afghan flashpoints name="back"> Correspondents say the combat curbs have been the most contentious issue at the two-day summit in Latvia, following tension over the reluctance of France, Germany, Spain and Italy to send their troops to southern 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. Nato sources say more than three-quarters of the 32,000-strong force in Afghanistan will soon be allowed to be deployed more widely if necessary.
Those agreeing to ease the restrictions on deployment against the Taleban include the Dutch, Romanians and smaller nations such as Slovenia and Luxembourg.
France, Germany, Spain and Italy have said they will now send help to trouble zones outside their areas, but only in emergencies.
"This has been our clear position from the beginning," Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi told journalists after a working dinner on the issue.
"That also goes for the French president, the German chancellor and the Spanish."
An alliance spokesman told the Reuters news agency that three countries had also 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.
Earlier, President Bush called on Nato not to undermine the effort in Afghanistan. Earlier, US President Bush 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."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.
New membersNew members
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. The summit, the first Nato meeting in an ex-Soviet state, will conclude after discussions about Nato's role in the 21st Century.
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.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