"Mr Manley is not a candidate and is not running for the job," his political advisor for Quebec, Jean-Philippe Cote, told AFP.

Sources at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's headquarters in Brussels had said that Manley's name was on the short list to replace Robertson.

Robertson, 56, is to leave office at the end of the year after four years in the job.

The civilian chief of the US-led, 19-nation alliance has traditionally come from a European country, but no one figure has yet emerged as a strong contender to replace Robertson.

Other names circulated have included Portugal's Antonio Vitorino, the European Commissioner for justice and home affairs, and Norwegian Defense Minister Kristin Krohn Devold.

Neither is thought to enjoy strong support in NATO, whose member states must agree unanimously on the next secretary general.

Manley, who also serves as Canada's finance minister, last month withdrew his candidacy from the race to succeed retiring Prime Minister Jean Chretien, saying he did not have the support to beat front-runner Paul Martin.

WAR.WIRE