Brussels, 05/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - According to diplomatic sources cited by AFP, NATO Secretary General George Robertson intends to convene a special meeting of the North Atlantic Council for the end of the week at ambassadorial level. The meeting will be devoted to the crisis in Iraq. NATO has so far not managed to come to a decision on US demands with a view to an Alliance contribution in the event of war. NATO sources state it is not a question of blocking in substance but is more a question of timing. Some allies say that, for now, a decision would be premature. Such objections may be waived after the speech by Colin Powell, on Wednesday at the Security Council. The support that Washington requests of the Alliance would mainly seek to protect Turkey from any counter attack on the part of Iraq, to use NATO surveillance AWACS, mine clearance and patrol ships, and to resort to command facilities for planning air or maritime transport, in-flight refuelling and even air coverage of ground troops, and also to obtain the right to fly over or to use Allied air bases.