The United States was to "indicate that they are willing for NATO to play a role, but they are very careful to appear demanding," said the source.

The Americans "don't want to rebuffed," he added after a meeting between Powell and NATO chief George Robertson.

"A significant number of countries are willing to see a NATO role, but it a significant number of countries are also worried about that."

He was speaking before a meeting of NATO's decision-making North Atlantic Council (NAC), at which Powell was to address his fellow foreign ministers.

US Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz proposed the idea of a post-war NATO role during a visit to Brussels in December, but it was shelved notably due to reservations by France and Germany.

Meanwhile Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio said NATO ambassadors could meet next week to "consider" the possibility of the alliance playing a role in Iraq.

SPACE.WIRE