Nato to train Iraqi army

In a declaration hours after the surprise announcement that the US-led coalition had transferred sovereignty to Baghdad two days early, they also condemned the terrorist attacks which continue to hamper reconstruction work.

"We are united in our support for the Iraqi people and offer full cooperation to the new sovereign interim government as it seeks to strengthen internal security and prepare the way to ... elections in 2005," they said.

"We deplore and call for an immediate end to all terrorist attacks in Iraq," it added.

The surprise Baghdad announcement electrified the Istanbul gathering, which opened amid ratchet-tight security for fear of terrorist attacks and to keep out protestors, who clashed with police outside the summit venue.

The two-day summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation also approved a larger-than-expected expansion of its 6,500-strong international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan.

But it was Iraq which dominated the start of proceedings.

US President George W. Bush and Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose war against Saddam Hussein nearly split Nato asunder last year, both welcomed the power handover.

"The important thing is that from now on Iraq controls its own destiny," said Blair, according to a transcript of comments after he met Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.

A spokeswoman for French President Jacques Chirac, who spearheaded the anti-war group in Nato last year, said he had "taken note" of the early handover but stressed that it is only one step in the political process there.

"We heard about it during President Bush's morning session," said the spokeswoman, Catherine Colonna.

The pledge to help train Iraqi security forces, who will now take responsibility for quelling violent insurgent activities, had been widely expected after diplomats thrashed out a carefully-worded accord over the weekend.