The four leaders have faced criticism for their summit

Washington and London have spoken out against plans for closer defence ties announced by four European Union countries which opposed the war in Iraq.

The leaders of France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg ended a mini-summit in Brussels by announcing plans for the creation of a joint military planning system by next year, and a multinational headquarters for European military operations in which Nato is not involved.

The four countries - all members of Nato - also intend to set up their own rapid reaction force.

They also want to launch a European Security and Defence Union, which others would be encouraged to join.

Hopes that Europe was ready to move closer to a common defence and foreign policy have been left in tatters by the Iraq war, which split the EU into pro- and anti-war camps.

The mini-summit has been criticised for worsening the rift - and critics pointed out that it had excluded the EU's biggest military power, the UK.

US dismissive

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said the US saw no need for the proposed new EU military command.

He also played down the significance of the summit agreement on defence.

"Four of the nations of the (European) union have come together and created some sort of a plan to develop some sort of a headquarters," Mr Powell told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The UK and France were deeply divided over Iraq

"What we need is not more headquarters. What we need is more capability and fleshing out of the structure and the forces that are already there."

UK Defence Minister Geoff Hoon urged the four countries not to disturb the harmony between the EU and Nato.

"I stress the importance of the consistency about the harmony of EU and Nato defence, which must be a result of a consensus between all of the members and the new members of the EU," he said during a visit to Hungary.

Italy and Spain also expressed strong reservations.

The EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, and the country currently holding the EU presidency, Greece, did not attend the summit.

But Mr Solana described the four-state initiative as "positive".

'No snub to Nato'

The leaders of the four nations have denied charges of organising an anti-Nato, anti-US summit.

A joint statement issued after their talks said Nato remained a cornerstone of European defence policy.

"The transatlantic partnership remains an essential strategic priority for Europe," it said.

But they did make clear they were seeking closer ties between EU members.

"The time has come to take new steps in the construction of a Europe of security and defence based on strengthened European military capabilities, which will also give a new vitality to the Atlantic alliance," their statement added.

Nato spokesman Yves Brodeur welcomed the commitment to the alliance, but said there were concerns.

"We are concerned about how extra capabilities will be delivered without extra resources, and we are also concerned about the risk of unnecessary duplication," Mr Brodeur said.