US forces could use Turkish bases

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.

The use of Turkish bases would give the US the chance to send warplanes or soldiers to attack from north of Iraq. There are already US soldiers in the Gulf, to the south of Iraq.

"Turkish support is assured and I think that it is a very strong message to Saddam Hussein and the regime in Baghdad that Iraq is surrounded by the international community," US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said. He spoke a day after meeting with Turkish leaders including Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.