"We want everyone who wants to visit the headquarters of international organisations in Brussels to be able to do so without any problems," outgoing Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt told the Financieel Economische Tijd newspaper.

"That doesn't only mean NATO," added Verhofstadt, who is trying to put together a new coalition government after winning elections last month.

Pressure has grown on Belgium over its disputed "universal competence law" after the United States slammed it as "absurd" and suspended funding for new NATO offices until action is taken.

Besides the military alliance, Belgium is home to several international bodies including the European Union.

The 1993 law allows courts in Belgium to judge suspects accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, regardless of where the alleged acts were committed, the nationality of the accused or that of the victims.

A number of lawsuits have been filed in Belgium under the law, including action against former US president George Bush, the US commander in the recent Iraq war General Tommy Franks, and an Israeli general.

But a recent modification of the law limits its powers, notably allowing for cases to be sent to the defendants' country of origin -- which Belgium did in the General Franks case in May.

Nevertheless, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld warned last week that Belgium could face consequences unless it revised the "absurd" law.

"For our part, we will have to seriously consider whether we can allow our civilian and military officials to come to Belgium," he said, adding US funding for the new NATO building would be suspended in the meantime.

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