Nato officials today played down talk of a rift within the alliance over the reluctance of some European nations to commit additional troops to Afghanistan where British and US soldiers now make up over half of the 35,000 strong international force.

NATO yesterday failed to win new troop commitments urgently needed for its Afghanistan campaign, but said a 10-day offensive to dislodge Taliban fighters was achieving its goals despite the shortage of troops.

Nato generals today struggled to persuade allies to provide an extra 2,000 troops urgently sought by commanders caught unawares by the ferocity of Taliban resistance to the alliance push into southern Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Nouri Maliki presented his 28-point national reconciliation plan to parliament today, a document that calls for setting a timeline for Iraqi troops to take control of security throughout the country.

Countless tips from Iraqis about everything from POWs to weapons caches are providing essential information to British and American forces seeking to stabilise the country and unravel its mysteries.

One of the seven US prisoners of war found safe and well said he was convinced his Iraqi captors were going to kill him.

Almost a week into the war, and America’s “shock and awe” air campaign has yet to achieve its broader aim: a quick surrender by the Iraqi regime that would avert all-out war for control of Baghdad.