Rasmussen Sees No Role For NATO In Iraq

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (file photo)

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said he does not see a role for the alliance in Iraq after Islamist militants seized swathes of territory in the country and took 80 Turkish citizens hostage.

Rasmussen, speaking on a visit to Madrid on June 12, condemned the violence and called for the immediate release of the hostages.

Al-Qaeda-linked militants seized 49 Turkish nationals at the Turkish consulate when they overran Mosul two days ago, after abducting 31 Turkish truck drivers in the city.

NATO ambassadors held an emergency meeting at Turkey's request on June 11 on the situation.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP