Brussels - The European Union wants to see Russian troops move out of Georgia "today," Javier Solana, the bloc's foreign policy chief, said in Brussels on Tuesday.

"Some troops are beginning to move ... and I hope very much that within the day, the troops will begin seriously to withdraw," said Solana.

The EU high representative was speaking as NATO ministers met at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels and ahead of talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

Brussels - The European Commission on Monday threatened to freeze its non-humanitarian aid to Mauritania following the recent appointment of a new prime minister by the country's military junta.

In a statement, the EU's executive in charge of development and humanitarian aid, Louis Michel, said the appointment of Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf, a former ambassador to the EU in Brussels, was "regrettable."

The commission views the junta's coup of August 6 as a violation of the country's commitments with the EU to respect human rights, uphold democratic principles and the rule of law.

Brussels - The European Union's executive body on Wednesday condemned as "appalling" the bomb attack in the Lebanese town of Tripoli which killed at least 17 people.

"I strongly condemn the bomb attack in Lebanon this morning, which caused numerous casualties - both civilian and military - in the city centre of Tripoli," EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero- Waldner said in a statement.

"The perpetrators of this appalling terrorist crime must be pursued and brought to justice.

"I express my sincere condolences to the families of those killed and injured at this time of loss.

Brussels - The European Union's foreign ministers were Wednesday seeking to find a united response to Georgia's conflict with Russia at an extraordinary meeting in Brussels.

The ministers were due to be briefed by their colleague Bernard Kouchner, who has just toured the region on behalf of the French presidency of the bloc, about his country's efforts to broker a ceasefire.

On Tuesday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev declared an end to Russian military operations in its neighbouring country. The announcement coincided with a visit to Moscow by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who put forward a six-phase plan for stabilizing the region.

Copenhagen  - A majority of Danish voters oppose abolishing the country's opt-out on justice and home affairs from the European Union, according to a poll published Tuesday.

Denmark joined the bloc in 1973, but obtained opt-outs that include security and defence policy, justice and home affairs and the euro after voters initially rejected the Maastricht Treaty in a 1992 referendum.

A majority of voters - 39.4 per cent - opposed scrapping the opt- out on justice and home affairs while 30.1 per cent were in favour of dropping it, the survey by polling institute Catinet Research suggested.

The remaining 30.5 per cent of the 1,070 people surveyed were undecided according to the poll commissioned by Danish news agency Ritzau.

Strasbourg - The Council of Europe on Monday called for free access by aid organizations to the conflict zones of Georgia, while offering its help in seeking a solution to the conflict between Georgia and Russia.

"I urge once again all parties to immediately enter into a ceasefire," said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the 47-nation Council of Europe, prior to his departure to Georgia along with council Secretary General Terry Davis as part of diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.