(Repeats for technical reasons)
MADRID, June 12 (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Thursday he didn't see a role for the organisation in Iraq after Islamist militants seized swathes of territory in the country and took 80 Turkish citizens hostage.
Rasmussen condemned the violence and called for immediate release of the hostages.
"We urge the hostage takers to release the hostages immediately. Nothing can justify this criminal act ... I don't see a role for NATO in Iraq, but of course we follow the situation closely and urge all parties involved to stop the violence," Rasmussen said during a conference in Madrid.
NATO ambassadors held an emergency meeting at Turkey's request on Wednesday on the situation. (Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; Writing by Paul Day; Editing by Sonya Dowsett)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
