Powell criticises Moscow to strengthen ties with European allies

Colin Powell, the departing US secretary of state, has laid bare the differences between Russia and the west for the second time in two days, as he sought to strengthen ties with Washington's main European allies.

In a valedictory appearance in Brussels, Powell rejected Russian claims that the west had interfered in Ukraine's presidential vote last month.

"Ukrainian and Russian authorities are hearing the clear message from North America and Europe in diplomatic stereo," said Powell. "And that message is: 'Let the people decide'."

During a meeting, Powell had traded barbed comments with Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, who argued that election monitoring could destabilise countries.

Ukraine will hold a new vote on December 26. The United States and Europe are pressing for this to be monitored by a large contingent of observers headed by the 55-nation Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

However, the extent to which Powell's criticisms of Russia are shared within the US administration remains unclear. He is scheduled to be replaced by Condoleezza Rice, now national security adviser.

Another test of the Washington-Moscow relationship will come in Brussels, when Lavrov meets Nato ministers.

On Wednesday, the US secretary of state returned to the attack. "Had it not been for the OSCE monitors ... the will of the Ukrainians would have almost certainly been thwarted," he said.

Powell also acknowledged that most Europeans remained opposed to the Iraq war and that the US administration had to do more to defuse the Israel-Palestine conflict.

He added that the EU and US had co-operated over the issue of Iran's nuclear programme.