Europe wants Danish leader to head NATO

BERLIN, March 9 (UPI) -- Europe's key powers want Denmark's prime minister to head the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Britain, France and Germany have agreed to nominate as NATO's next secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Denmark's current premier, Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung reports. Rasmussen could succeed the current officeholder, Dutchman Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, after his term runs out July 31.

Rasmussen was chosen over Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, who is considered too critical toward Russia. The European powers in the alliance are eager to improve relations with Moscow after a period of diplomatic conflicts.

Washington has not yet voiced its favorite candidate, but the top European choice usually gets the job. The United States can in turn nominate NATO's top military head, currently Gen. Bantz Craddock.

Rasmussen is a respected European politician but has critics in the left-wing camp because of his backing of the U.S.-led war in Iraq. He has been governing Denmark in a center-right minority coalition since 2001.