NATO's European leaders pledged a significant increase in troops for the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan at their 60th anniversary summit Saturday, but the alliance seemed sure to arouse hostility in the Muslim world by choosing the controversial Danish prime minister as the alliance's new secretary general, AP reported. NATO leaders also launched work on a new strategic concept for the alliance in the future, and said they would seek to overcome differences with Russia. While the allies tried to project harmony, violent protests marred the event as black-clad protesters attacked police and set a customs station ablaze at a bridge used as the backdrop for a walk by NATO leaders from Germany across the Rhine river to France. All 28 NATO leaders unanimously approved Anders Fogh Rasmussen as the new civilian leader of the alliance. Turkey was strongly opposed to Fogh Rasmussen. He had infuriated many Muslims by defending freedom of speech during an uproar over a Danish newspaper's publication of the cartoons in 2005. He has also angered Turkey by opposing its membership in the European Union. «Every head of state and government is fully convinced the Anders Fogh Rasmussen is the best choice for NATO,» said Jaap de Hoop Scheffer of the Netherlands, the alliance's outgoing secretary general. «A solution has been found also for the concerns expressed by Turkey, and we are unanimous in this,» he said.
