Deputy Prime Minister John Manley may have given up his run for the top job in Canada, but there are reports circulating that his name is being considered to lead NATO.

A successor is being sought for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's outgoing secretary-general, George Robertson. No Canadian has ever led the 19-nation Western defence group.

A deadlock has emerged between France and the United States over the choice of new NATO leadership. The two countries remain at odds, after differences this year over the war in Iraq.

Manley’s name was apparently floated on Thursday, as a possible choice to break the deadlock.

Manley withdrew last month from the race to succeed Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and his political future is up in the air. The likely winner of the Liberal leadership race is Paul Martin, who hasn't said whether Manley would be welcomed in his cabinet.

Response to the reports out of Brussels, where NATO offices are based, varied Thursday night.

"Mr. Manley is not a candidate and is not running for the job," Manley’s political advisor for Quebec, Jean-Philippe Cote, told AFP News.

However, another source confirmed to Reuters that Manley's name was in the mix, at least unofficially.

NATO sources have told AFP and Reuters news that Manley’s name is among a number that have been raised informally by allies, in an effort to break the deadlock.

Manley, 53, is also Canada’s finance minister, and served as foreign minister from 2000 to 2002.

During his time as foreign affairs minister, Manley became friendly with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge in the days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

While Canada, like France, disagreed with the U.S. on Iraq, Manley is perceived as someone who can smooth over those differences due to his friendship with Ridge and his reputation in Washington. And to the Europeans, Manley would be seen as someone coming from a French-language speaking country.