But the mood risks being tense, as anti-war countries focus on demands for a central role for the United Nations after the conflict.

The meeting with EU and NATO counterparts will be Powell's first trip to Europe since the Iraq crisis spiralled into war, shattering European unity and straining transatlantic ties to breaking point.

France and Germany, whose foreign ministers are scheduled to have lunch with Powell in Brussels, led the campaign against the war, and have made no bones about their continued opposition.

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov will also be in Brussels for the extraordinary gathering of foreign ministers of both the EU and NATO, with which Moscow has close ties.

Security will be tight for the talks, with activists in fiercely anti-war Belgium announcing plans for demonstrations outside NATO headquarters where the meetings will take place.

Powell, who was due to arrive in Brussels late Wednesday, said he wants to "see how to bring the international community behind the effort to rebuild the country after decades of destruction."

In addition he plans to discuss "how to get the humanitarian aid moving in an efficient way, the role of the international community and of the interim authority," he said in Ankara.

But even before the meeting the Europeans have made their feelings clear, in barbed comments.

"It would have been preferable for Mr Powell to have taken this initiative before the war," said Christos Protopapas, spokesman for the Greek government which currently holds the EU presidency.

In Brussels Powell will notably attend a meeting of NATO's decision-making North Atlantic Council (NAC) at the level of foreign ministers.

NATO was plunged into an unprecedented crisis in February after three anti-war countries blocked a US request to help boost Turkey's defences in preparation for a war.

The row was resolved after a deal bypassed France. But Germany and Belgium, while reluctantly agreeing, have since threatened to withdraw their support if Turkish troops move into northern Iraq.

That issue is likely to be discussed at Thursday's talks in Brussels, which come after Powell visited Ankara on Wednesday.

Meanwhile Powell will also have a joint meeting with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, the EU Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten and Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

The European Union, while deeply spit between the French-led anti-war camp and the pro-US group led by Britain, are mostly agreed on the need for a "central" for the UN.

And EU calls for a UN-supervised administration in Iraq are becoming more strident amid concerns that Washington may cut non-US companies out of reconstruction contracts in Iraq.

Powell said in Ankara: "I think there is a consensus that says the UN has a role to play. What we have to work out is what exactly is the nature of that role."

A spokeswoman for EU external relations commissioner Chris Patten welcomed Powell's decision to make the hastily-arranged trip to Europe -- although downplayed hopes of concrete agreements.

"It is a positive sign, a good thing that we are continuing discussions during the war, even if decisions are not going to be taken at this meeting," she said.

On Thursday evening, after the NATO and EU talks, Powell is due to meet his Russian countepart, whose country has warned that the Iraq conflict has sparked the biggest crisis since the Cold War.

SPACE.WIRE