EU president Greece proposed on Monday a European Union summit as well as an EU foreign ministers meeting next week to discuss the Iraq crisis. A Greek foreign ministry spokesman said the meetings -- foreign ministers next Monday morning and heads of government that afternoon -- would be held either in Athens or Brussels. "Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis decided to take the initiative for these meetings at the beginning of next week, Monday, to look into our moves after the Blix report," Foreign Minister George Papandreou told reporters.

On Friday Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix is to deliver a report to the Security Council on Iraq's compliance with the hunt for any weapons of mass destruction. A critical report could lead to the start of a countdown to U.S.-led military action against Iraq.

The United States and its close ally Britain have threatened to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein unless Iraq cooperates fully with the U.N. disarmament effort.

The Greek proposals coincide with a flurry of diplomatic activity on the part of some powers, notably Germany, France and Russia, that are reluctant to sanction a war on Baghdad until the U.N. arms inspectors' efforts have been exhausted.

In Berlin on Monday, a spokesman said the German government saw no reason at present for the U.N. Security Council to consider a second resolution authorizing the use of force.

Iraq denies it has any weapons of mass destruction, while Blix told Reuters on Monday Iraq had promised to drill into the ground to prove it had destroyed its banned weapons.

"They themselves suggested new physical signs, new methods of investigating whether material they declared unilaterally destroyed, whether it was actually there. They will be drilling into the ground," Blix said.

Also on Monday, a NATO official said Turkey had formally sought consultations with NATO for defense of its territory in the event of a U.S.-led war against Iraq.

Ankara's move followed France, Belgium and Germany blocking proposals to start planning the deployment of early-warning aircraft, Patriot anti-missile defenses and anti-biological and anti-chemical warfare teams to Turkey.

PHOTO CAPTION

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis (R) speaks with Italian European Commission President Romano Prodi (L) before speaking to the European Parliament January 14, 2003 in Strasbourg. Greece took over the six-month EU rotating presidency in January. REUTERS/Vincent Kessl