"Well, it is obvious their stand is not to wage war, and to find some other solutions to settle this problem with Iraq," the prime minister told reporters here.

"And I think, we are fully supportive of this," Mahathir said when asked on the move by France, Germany and Belgium to block the automatic start of NATO procedures for the military planning to protect Turkey.

France, Germany and Belgium argued that preparations to defend Turkey could be seen as sanctioning military actions against Iraq before diplomatic initiatives have been exhausted.

As a likely launch pad for a strike against Iraq, Turkey is nervous about possible counter-attacks on its southern flank.

French President Jacques Chirac reaffirmed Monday that "nothing justifies a war" on Iraq, insisting that the goal of disarming Iraq could be reached through United Nations weapons inspections.

But US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday criticized France, Germany and Belgium for blocking NATO efforts to provide military assistance for Turkey to defend itself in the event of a US-led war on Iraq.

"I hope that NATO will now realize that they have an obligation to assist a NATO member who asks for help," Powell said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 12, 2003)