NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Thursday he didn’t see a role for the Northern Atlantic organization in Iraq, after militants seized swathes of territory in the country and took 80 Turkish citizens hostage.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Thursday he didn't see a role for the Northern Atlantic organization in Iraq, after 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.