"NATO is already committed in helping in Iraq," Robertson told reporters. "We are not at a stage yet of looking at any broader involvement to Iraq, largely because we're trying to make a succes of the work that we are doing."

Currently NATO's involvement in postwar Iraq extends to providing logistical support to a Polish-led division of a multinational stabilisation force.

The US Senate last week called for NATO and UN troops to be sent to Iraq, while former US army commander Tommy Franks warned that US forces may have to stay as long as four years.

Thirty-three US soldiers have been killed in attacks thought to be carried out by loyalists to Saddam Hussein's ousted regime since May 1 when the United States declared an end to major combat operations in Iraq.

WAR.WIRE