NATO split will not delay war, warns US

WITH Europe split over war in Iraq, a massive rift was last night threatening to tear NATO apart as America warned it will go it alone.

France and Germany, which had vetoed an American attempt to offer NATO defence aid to Turkey in the event of war with Iraq, turned the screw further with a little help from Russia. The troika issued a joint declaration calling for strengthened UN weapons inspections in Iraq, part of a diplomatic initiative aimed at disarming Saddam Hussein without war.

Meanwhile, Baghdad said yesterday it would agree to the use of American U-2 spy planes over its territory and pledged to pass legislation next week outlawing weapons of mass destruction.