Turkey delays US permission on base

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 Secretary of State Colin Powell said earlier Washington expected to hear back from Turkey by last night on whether it accepts a final US offer of aid in exchange for placing troops on its borders for a possible attack on Iraq.

“Our talks are continuing on many issues. We have relayed our position to America on many of these issues, we want a reply from them,” Yakis said.