Rice warns NATO allies on Iran danger

Ankara, Apr 26: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today drummed up support in NATO allies for tougher action against Iran, highlighting its apparent willingness to export nuclear technology.

Rice, who was greeted by violent protests in Athens, said a comment today by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that Iran was ready to share its nuclear knowledge was a cause for concern and showed the need for tougher diplomacy.

''Indeed that's one of the fears -- that there would be that kind of escape if you will of knowledge and expertise on these dangerous technologies,'' she told a news conference in Turkey, where she flew after a brief stop in Greece.

Khamenei said in Tehran after talks with the visiting Sudanese president Iran was ready to transfer its technology.

The West fears Tehran is secretly developing atomic weapons which could be transferred to terrorist groups. Iran insists it only wants nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Rice said in the Greek capital, a stop in a trip that also includes NATO member Bulgaria, that the international community needed to take ''credible'' steps to prevent Iran from continuing to develop its nuclear programme.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reports to the Security Council on Friday on whether Tehran has complied with their demands.

Rice told a news conference the United Nations will consider measures to be taken next but those cannot be just statements ''in light of Iran's continued defiance of international norms''.

''I think that we are going to have to take a next step. It seems logical that we should consider a Chapter 7 resolution under the Security Council's mandate,'' she said, referring to a resolution that can allow for sanctions or even military action.

Athens riot

As Rice met her Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyanni and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, riot police fired tear gas at demonstrators trying to march to the US embassy.

Police said nine protesters were arrested in the clashes, which wrecked at least 10 central Athens shops and 4 cars. No injuries were reported.

Rice said work needed to be done on Cyprus's 32-year division -- a source of tension in Greek-Turkish relations and a major stumbling block to Turkey's EU hopes.

''We do believe that there needs to be good will and effort by Turkey, but there also needs to be good will and effort by Cyprus,'' Rice told the news conference.

She urged Cyprus to help Turkey's EU accession and ease the isolation of the breakaway northern Cypriot enclave, which is recognised only by Ankara.

In Turkey, Rice tried to ease concerns instability in Iraq was threatening its security, pledging continued support for Ankara's fight against the rebel Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Turkey says the conflict in Iraq is allowing the PKK to launch more attacks against its forces in the country's southeast, and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul today repeated a call for Washington to help more.

Rice said the formation of a new Iraqi government would help boost coordination between the three countries and prevent border incursions by the PKK, seen by both Ankara and Washington as a terrorist group.

''We obviously also are sharing information. The US was active in helping in the past with the PKK and we will be active in the future,'' she said.

Turkey blames the PKK for the deaths of more than 30,000 people since it launched its armed campaign for an ethnic homeland in 1984. Around 5,000 PKK rebels are believed to be operating out of camps in the mountains of northern Iraq.

Reuters