NATO Chief Voices 'Full Confidence' in General Allen

NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen expressed his "full confidence" Wednesday in General John Allen, the head of alliance forces in Afghanistan who has been dragged into the scandal that toppled CIA director David Petraeus.

"I have full confidence in General Allen," Rasmussen said at a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

"I really appreciate his leadership," he added. "He has contributed to make significant progress in Afghanistan. He has demonstrated an outstanding leadership."

Allen is under investigation for "inappropriate" emails to a woman linked to the Petraeus affair.

Due to face U.S. lawmakers this week for a hearing to confirm his promotion to the post of NATO's supreme commander in Europe, Allen is to return to Kabul and remain in charge of allied forces in Afghanistan until the probe is over.

"This is not a NATO issue. This is an issue to be handled by the U.S. authorities," Rasmussen added.

The FBI has uncovered 20,000 to 30,000 pages of correspondence -- mostly emails -- between Allen and Jill Kelley, a key figure in the scandal that brought down the CIA chief.

President Barack Obama has backed the four-star general as has Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, currently on a visit to Australia.