British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he does not think Turkey is ready to take command of the international peacekeepers in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Straw said Sunday that Britain, which currently leads the 4,500 man peacekeeping force, would keep command longer than originally expected.
Turkey was supposed to have taken the lead role next month, however, Straw said the economically-strapped Turkish government is getting concerned over the cost.
Straw added that he is no longer absolutely certain Turkey would assume command, according to VOA News.
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 peacekeeping force.
Britain announced last week it is sending another 1,700 soldiers to Afghanistan to help U.S. forces root out remaining pockets of Taleban and Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda fighters.
Earlier Sunday, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan said troops found at least 50 abandoned sites where al Qaeda terrorists tried to build weapons of mass destruction, including anthrax bombs.
However, General Tommy Franks said there is no evidence they succeeded.
Meanwhile, Reuters News Agency reported 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 claimed the Taleban issued passports to al Qaeda members and non-Afghan citizens with no identity checks. (Albawaba.com)
