France blocks start of NATO military planning to protect Turkey from Iraqi missile attack
By PAUL AMES Associated Press Writer
BRUSSELS, Belgium, Feb 10, 2003 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- France blocked the start of NATO military planning Monday to protect Turkey against the threat of Iraqi missile attack, further accentuating the deep divisions in the alliance over the Iraq crisis.
NATO officials said France formally blocked the move an hour before NATO procedures would have started the military planning automatically at 10:00 a.m. (0900 GMT).
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As expected, Belgium backed the French move. Foreign Minister Louis Michel said Sunday it was too early for the alliance to enter into a "war mind-set."It was unclear if Germany, which had previously backed French and Belgian hesitation had also supported the latest the delay of the planning to send surveillance planes, anti-missile batteries and units specialized in dealing with germ warfare and poison gas attacks to Turkey.
The French move is a blow to the United States which has lobbied hard for more than three weeks for the alliance to start the military planning, backed by 16 of the 19 NATO allies.
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