Oslo - Remarks by Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store further fuelled speculation that Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen is soon to be chosen for the post of secretary general of NATO.

After a speech Monday evening in Oslo, Store was quoted by the online edition of the Dagsavisen newspaper that the next NATO secretary general understands Norwegian, which "is good for Norway."

Speakers of Norwegian and Danish can understand each other quite easily.

Rasmussen has since 2001 been prime minister of Denmark at the helm of a minority government, including his Liberal Party and the Conservatives, and with backing from the populist Danish People's Party.

Recent media reports have suggested that Rasmussen has secured support from key European NATO members such as Britain, France and Germany. Over the weekend the United States was also said to have moved to his corner.

A decision was likely at the NATO summit early April.

Turkey, one of the 26 NATO members, may however be opposed to Rasmussen due to his his stance during the crisis caused by a series of cartoons published in September 2005 by a Danish newspaper.

The cartoons, including one of the Prophet Mohammed with a bomb in his turban, sparked violent protests in Muslim countries around the world in early 2006. (dpa)