European Union leaders are to hold an emergency meeting in Brussels today to discuss disagreements over a possible war against Iraq. The move follows the healing of a major rift between NATO members on a plan to beef up military defences in Turkey after France was excluded from talks. France, Germany and Belgium had vetoed plans to deploy military equipment designed to protect Turkey from Iraq because they argued the move made NATO a party to preparations for war. The US was pushing for the move because it needs Turkey as a launch pad for any military action against Saddam Hussein. NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson said the alliance would provide "defensive assistance".
"This is not a step towards going to war. It is a reaffirmation of our support for the UN and Security Council resolution 1441," he said. However, despite the breakthrough at NATO, today's summit is expected to result in many EU States squaring up to each other once again, with Britain, Spain and Italy on the side of the US and France and Germany calling for a calmer approach to the Iraq situation. //www.fxcentre.com