Danish premier Rasmussen fields questions on NATO job rumours

Danish premier Rasmussen fields questions on NATO job rumours Copenhagen - Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Tuesday declined to comment on speculation that he might seek the post of NATO secretary-general.

Rasmussen has been tipped as a top candidate for the post and according to recent reports in the German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung and London-based Financial Times he has secured backing from Britain, France and Germany - key European NATO members.

Speaking at a news conference after a cabinet meeting, Rasmussen opened the session by saying he would not take questions on NATO.

But despite the opening statement, Rasmussen then faced several questions on his possible candidature as future head of the defence alliance.

"I have no comment whatsoever at this stage," Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said he was focusing on his job as prime minister and had no comments to reports that the speculation was detracting attention from other government business.

The upcoming NATO summit early April would likely see a decision on the secretary-general, he said.

The premier said he and his wife were looking forward to becoming grandparents for the first time and assured reporters he was "quite good at multi-tasking" when asked about fitting that role with his work load.

Rasmussen, 56, has been at the helm of government since 2001 when his centre-Right Liberal Party formed a minority government with the Conservatives, and secured backing from the populist Danish People's Party - that has controversially pushed for tighter immigration rules. (dpa)

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