Berlin — German and French officials fired back angrily Thursday at U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's dismissal of their governments as the "old Europe," saying the comment underscored U.S. arrogance as it prepares for possible war with Iraq.

Mr. Rumsfeld also said that German and French positions had proved to be a "problem" that had not been created by "vast numbers of other countries in Europe. They're not with France and Germany on this. They're with the United States."

"We should try to treat each other sensibly," German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Thursday as he left for a tour of Turkey and the Middle East in an attempt to cool the crisis. "Our position is not a problem, it is a constructive contribution."

The spat erupted after the two European powers unveiled a joint anti-war stance for Iraq on Wednesday, forcing the NATO alliance to delay planning for a possible support role in an Iraqi invasion.

French Finance Minister Francis Mer said he was "profoundly vexed" by the remarks.

"I wanted to remind everyone that this 'old Europe' has resilience, and is capable of bouncing back," Mr. Mer told LCI television. "And it will show it, in time."

"If you knew what I feel like telling him, to Mr. Rumsfeld ...," French Ecology Minister Roselyne Bachelot said on Europe-1 radio. She then stopped herself and said the word would be too offensive to publish.

In Athens, meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said there was not enough evidence against Iraq to justify military intervention.

Mr. Ivanov was in the Greek capital for a two-day meeting with the European Union to discuss ways of averting war in Iraq.

"Russia deems that there is no evidence that would justify a war in Iraq," he said.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac were engaged in celebrations marking 40 years of German-French postwar reconciliation as Mr. Rumsfeld said their countries represented Europe of the past.

"You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't," Rumsfeld said in his remarks. "I think that's old Europe. If you look at the entire NATO Europe today, the centre of gravity is shifting to the east, and there are a lot of new members."

Neither Mr. Schroeder nor Mr. Chirac responded directly to the remark on Thursday, but the German leader stiffened his opposition, saying Germany and France would stick to their anti-war stance and "never accept" that war is inevitable.

"We are of the opinion that everything must be done to achieve the implementation of the (UN) resolution by peaceful means," said Mr. Schroeder, speaking alongside Mr. Chirac at a discussion with a group of students from both countries at the Chancellery in Berlin.

"That is the common position of France and Germany and we will not be diverted from it," Mr. Schroeder said. Both countries are currently members of the UN Security Council, although only France has veto power.

Catherine Colonna, spokeswoman for Mr. Chirac, said the President considered the debate over war with Iraq as "legitimate" but wants to see it "take place with seriousness and calmness."

This week at the United Nations, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin hinted at a French veto if the United States tries to push a resolution through the Security Council calling for military action against Baghdad. The Bush administration maintains that it does not need a second UN resolution before waging war against Iraq.

The White House sought to minimize the dispute, which could hamper efforts to reach a consensus next week when the weapons inspectors report on 60 days of searches and the UN Security Council considers its next moves.

Presidential spokesman Ari Fleischer said "the President is confident that Europe will heed the call." Mr. Fleischer acknowledged, however, that "it's entirely possible that France won't be on the line."

NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson, meanwhile, played down differences among the allies.

"This is not some sort of bust-up," Lord Robertson told a news conference. "It is a disagreement on timing, not on substance."

Lord Robertson said he was sure the 19-nation alliance would soon agree to start planning for roles including protection of Turkey, the only NATO member that borders Iraq, from a counterstrike by Baghdad.

"I have absolutely no doubt that the alliance will stand by its ally Turkey," he said. "There is no dispute there."

Aside from protecting Turkey, the U.S. proposals include using NATO planning facilities, providing cover for U.S. troops sent to the Persian Gulf and taking up a possible peacekeeping role in a postwar Iraq.

NATO officials said a decision to start the military planning could come next week, depending on the content of a report to the Security Council by the UN weapons inspectors scheduled for Monday.

In China, which also holds a veto in the Security Council, a foreign ministry official said it is not time for war.

"We have always stood for a diplomatic and political resolution of the Iraqi issue," spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said. "Our stance on this issue is close to that of the French government."