British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw says he does not thinkTurkey is ready to take command of international peacekeepers in Kabul, Afghanistan. 

Mr. Straw said Sunday that Britain, which currently leads the 4,500 man peacekeeping force, will keep command longer than expected. 

Turkey was supposed to have taken the lead role next month. But Mr. Straw says the economically-strapped Turkish government is getting worried about the cost. 

Mr. Straw says he is no longer absolutely certain Turkey will assume command. 

During a stop in Ankara last week, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney offered Turkey $228-million in aid to help pay for leading the force. 

Britain announced last week it is sending another 1,700 soldiers to Afghanistan to help U.S. forces root out remaining pocket of Taleban and Qaida fighters. 

Earlier Sunday, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan says troops found at least 50 abandoned sites where al-Qaida terrorists tried to build weapons of mass destruction, including anthrax bombs. 

But General Tommy Franks says there is no evidence they succeeded. Reuters reports that Afghan officials have canceled all passports issued during the five-year Taleban regime to help stop foreign terrorists from traveling. 

The head of the Afghan passport office says the Taleban issued passports to al-Qaida members and non-Afghan citizens with no identity checks. 

Some information for this report provided by AFP.

Email this article to a friend.
Printer Friendly Version