NATO yesterday declined an overture by Qatar to join the Western military defence alliance, saying membership was reserved to the United States and Europe. It was responding to a comment by Qatar's defence minister yesterday that his country's long-term strategic "ambition" was to join NATO.

"According to Article 10 of the Washington Treaty, only European countries can become members of NATO," an official of the 29-country alliance said. Defence Minister Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah had said Qatar wanted to become a full member of NATO.