LONDON, Feb. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) could play a role in the conflict in Sudan's troubled Darfur region if asked by Africans and the United Nations, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said Thursday.

    NATO could intervene in the Darfur crisis, if the African Union(AU) and the United Nations ask it to do so, de Hoop Scheffer saidin an interview with BBC radio in London.

    "As far as Darfur is concerned, NATO is not involved, because the African Union is trying to set up a peace-monitoring mission. The (UN) Security Council is divided, and NATO will not go and rush into Darfur," said the NATO chief.

    However, if asked by the AU and the United Nations, NATO could give support -- in command and control and logistic support -- to an operation in Darfur, de Hoop Scheffer said.

    The NATO chief emphasized it should be left to the Africans andthe AU to find a way of solving the conflict in Darfur.

    "But if African leaders would come -- through the UN -- to NATO,and ask NATO what could you do to support what we are doing, I think the allies would have a very serious discussion, " he said. Enditem