Nato foreign ministers today considered proposals for strengthening support for African peacekeepers struggling to contain political and ethnic violence in Sudan’s Darfur region.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is looking at developing closer relations with nations on the Pacific rim – Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea – as the alliance seeks to broaden its world role.

SOME NATO members shifted away from a confrontation with the US yesterday, welcoming Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s explanation of Washington’s views on secret prisons and the treatment of terrorist suspects.

Some Nato members shifted away from a confrontation with the US today, welcoming Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s explanation of Washington’s views on secret prisons and the treatment of terrorist suspects.

PAKISTANI and US military helicopters delivered aid at a brisk pace to the earthquake-stricken region of Kashmir yesterday.

Nato is to expand its airlift of relief supplies to earthquake-hit Pakistan, but has acknowledged its humanitarian role has limits.

Nato allies agreed today to consider offering logistical help to the African Union’s peacekeeping force in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region.

An ally of presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko said today that the opposition is ready to hold talks with President Leonid Kuchma only about the peaceful transfer of power to Yushchenko.

US President George Bush will appeal to allied leaders next week to send a Nato force to Iraq to bolster the coalition that is struggling against a potent insurgency, two senior administration officials said.

US President George W Bush's call for a wider role for NATO in post-occupation Iraq received a lukewarm response yesterday.

NATO is sending reinforcements to Kosovo following the outbreak of ethnic violence, officials said in Brussels.