British foreign secretary leaves for EU meeting

British foreign secretary Jack Straw today left on the latest leg of a diplomatic offensive to maintain a unified front in the war in Afghanistan.

Mr Straw was flying first to Luxembourg to meet EU foreign ministers to discuss the crisis before jetting off to Ankara for talks with the government in Muslim-dominated Turkey.

Speaking from RAF Northolt, west London, before setting off, he said Turkey’s support as a ‘‘key ally’’ was vital.

He said: ‘‘I shall be speaking to the prime minister and foreign minister about their advice as a country in a key strategic location between Europe and Asia, a secular country but with 98% of their population Muslim.’’

Turkey has promised the use of military bases to the United States in its war against the Taliban regime and terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.

Mr Straw was flying to Turkey this afternoon as part of two days of talks.