Tony Blair and George Bush have called for NATO to get more involved in post-handover peacekeeping in Iraq.

The prime minister and US president were speaking at the G8 summit in Georgia on Wednesday after the UN passed a resolution on the transfer of power.

They immediately moved to internationalise the US-UK security role in Iraq by calling on NATO to increase its current small logistical contribution now that all Alliance members are backing the task.

Blair and Bush held 45 minutes of private talks before beginning a breakfast meeting with other world leaders at the Sea Island resort.

Bush told reporters that "we discussed NATO involvement over breakfast and we believe NATO ought to be involved".

"We will work with our NATO friends to at least continue the role that now exists and hopefully extend it somewhat."

The president recognised that the Alliance is already suffering from overstretch due to commitments in Afghanistan and the former Yugoslavia.

"A lot of NATO countries are not in the position to commit many more troops, we fully understand that," he said.

But Blair said NATO can bring its expertise from these operations to bear on Iraq's bid to train up its own security forces.

"I think that's right. The important next step in this is going to be for the new Iraqi government to sit down with the multi-national force and work out how, over time, the Iraqi capability for security can be established," he said.

Middle East

G8 leaders were also set to discuss Bush's Greater Middle East Initiative proposals on Wednesday.

The White House wants to encourage greater democracy and civil liberties to region and Britain is backing the controversial policy.

"This is a process of change and we have got to help people manage it," Blair said.

"Sensible people sitting down and looking at the Middle East know there needs to be a process of reform and change.

"It's not for us to dictate it, but it is for us to help."