Nato forces are working under the US-led coalition against the Taliban in Afghanistan [AFP]

In his first major speech as the military alliance's head, Rasmussen said that during his five year term he wanted to see "Afghans take over responsibility for security in most of their country", in reference to the US-led operation in Afghanistan.

"Nato must and will be there in support. Let no Taliban propagandist try to sell my message as a run for the exit. It is not.

"We will support the Afghan people for as long as it takes. But ... this means helping them stand on their own feet," he said on Monday.

Nato took over some operations in Afghanistan six years ago, but a rising number of civilian casualties because of attacks by western forces has fuelled Afghan anger.

Denmark's former leader took up his duties on August 1, but Monday marks his first day as secretary-general of the US-Europe military alliance.

He takes over from the Netherland's Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who held the role since 2004.

Muslim relations

Rasmussen almost lost out on the job earlier in the year after Turkey, a key Nato member, opposed his appointment, only backing down after he vowed to seek better relations with the Muslim world.

Rasmussen, left, has taken over from Jaap de Hoop Sheffer as the new chief [AFP]

Relations between Denmark and the Muslim world came under strain in 2005, during Rasmussen's premiership, after Danish newspaper Jyllands Posten printed cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

Despite global protests, Rasmussen refused to condemn the publication.

On Monday, Rasmussen said Nato's relations with Muslim nations in groups such as the Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) and Istanbul Co-operation Initiative (ISCI) were a priority.

The MD is a 10-year old forum between Nato and Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, while the ISCI, a newer initiative, promotes co-operation between the alliance and Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates

"Let me assure [these] countries... that I am fully committed to building stronger relations with them on the basis of mutual respect, understanding, trust and to face common challenges - terrorism, proliferation and the dangers of failed states," Rasmussen said.

Engaging Taliban

In an interview published in the Danish newspaper Politiken on Saturday, Rasmussen said he would support dialogue with "moderate groups on the outer reaches of the Taliban".

"There is certainly a hard core that is impossible to reach any deals with. They have only respect for military powers," he was quoted as saying.

"But there are groups that you can talk with to try and bring about some kind of reconciliation with the Afghan community."

He continued: "I certainly don't know why one should strike any agreements with those who are killing our soldiers. We are talking about other groups located on the outer fringes of the Taliban."

Other European officials, including David Miliband, the British foreign minister, have struck similarly conciliatory notes about engaging Taliban fighters willing to renounce violence.

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