Iraqi PM to hold talks with NATO

BRUSSELS (AFP) - Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi is to visit NATO headquarters during a trip to Brussels later this week, when he is already scheduled to have lunch with EU leaders, an Alliance source said.
Allawi will hold talks Friday with leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which is helping the interim Iraqi government to train its security forces.
Allawi will address the North Atlantic Council (NAC), the 26-member Alliance's top decision-making body, said the official, who gave no more details about the expected agenda.
The meeting will occur Friday morning, shortly before Allawi is due to lunch with European Union (EU) chiefs holding a summit.
NATO agreed to send a military training mission to Iraq in principle in June, but struggled for several months to agree the details. It is now rushing to deploy up to 400 instructors in the country ahead of January elections.

11/02/2004 - 16:18 GMT - AFP