NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen expressed "full confidence" Wednesday in US General John Allen, commander of NATO and US troops in Afghanistan, who is embroiled in the sex scandal that forced CIA chief David Petraeus to resign, dpa reported.
"I really appreciate his leadership," Rasmussen said. "He has demonstrated an outstanding leadership as commander of our ISAF mission in Afghanistan."
Allen, a career officer in the US Marines, was nominated by President Barack Obama last month for the posts of Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and head of US forces in Europe.
But the nomination was put on hold as US media reported on "inappropriate communication" between Allen and Jill Kelley, a Petraeus family friend who triggered the FBI probe that exposed Petraeus' affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell.
Rasmusssen said the Allen's appointment "is not a NATO issue. This is an issue to be handled by the US authorities."
"I have full confidence in General Allen and, pending US procedures, I also look forward to continuing working with him," Rasmussen said.