Turkey has reached a “broad agreement” with the US to allow combat forces to be based in the country in case of war with Iraq, foreign minister Yasar Yakis has said.

TURKISH Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis indicated yesterday a simple answer to Washington’s urgent request to allow US troops on its soil was not possible as there were several outstanding issues.

US preparations for war with Iraq suffered a new setback yesterday when Turkey dug in its heels in negotiations over its role as a launchpad for an invasion.

TURKEY entered into a political war of nerves with the United States yesterday when it signalled it was delaying a decision on allowing US troops to deploy on Turkish soil for a possible invasion of Iraq.

A TOP US official warned Iraq yesterday it is "surrounded" and added Washington is looking to spend up to hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade Turkish bases that could be used in a war against Iraq.

Turkey’s foreign minister said today that his country would allow the United States to use military bases in the country for a strike against Iraq, but only if the United Nations approved such military action.