Iraq's interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi visited NATO headquarters for the first time Friday as military experts from the Atlantic alliance mull plans to expand a training mission for the country's military. Allawi met envoys from the 26-nation alliance which was bitterly divided over the U.S.-led war in Iraq last year when France and Germany led opposition to the invasion. Military experts are studying plans to expand that mission to include 300 instructors and hundreds more guards and support staff to run a military academy for Iraqi officers outside Baghdad. After his talks at NATO, Allawi is scheduled to join European Union leaders at their summit across town. The United States is pushing for the NATO training center to be operational by the end of this year. Last week, NATO's top operational commander, U.S. Marine Gen. James L. Jones, said the academy should be able to turn out about 1,000 officers a year. He said at least 16 of the 26 NATO allies had indicated willingness to contribute troops in Iraq for the training mission. Others will help train troops outside the country, he added. A first group of about 20 Iraqi officers began a weeklong course Monday at NATO's Joint Warfare center in Norway. NATO is also helping to coordinate international efforts to supply military equipment to Iraq's armed forces.
