In 2003 Nato took its operations outside Europe for the first time when it assumed strategic command of the UN-mandated peacekeeping force in and immediately around the Afghan capital, Kabul.

BBC: Profile: Nato

One Western naval officer says placing all the warships under a single command, perhaps of the UN, and adopting the same rules of engagement would help to make them more effective.

ECONOMIST: Piracy off Somalia

After meeting America's secretary of state, Colin Powell, on Thursday, and Britain's foreign secretary, Jack Straw, on Friday, Mr Annan acknowledged that diplomats were discussing the possibility of agreeing a multinational force to guard UN sites and staff, with a separate command structure but in some way under the influence of the American military.

ECONOMIST: Iraq's security void