Straw tours site of Istanbul Consulate bombing

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has warned that "everywhere" was a target for the "ruthless fanatics" behind the recent bombings in Turkey.

Mr Straw, visibly shaken by a tour of the remains of the British Consulate, said that Istanbul was the target this week, but that New York, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia had been targets in past years, and that everywhere was a potential target.

Appealing for greater co-operation in the global fight against terrorism, the Foreign Secretary said that the attack looked like the work of a group with al-Qaeda associations.

While in Istanbul Mr Straw met with the widow of the murdered Consul General, Victoria Short and her daughter.

The Foreign Office has confirmed yesterday that a number of staff, both British and Turkish, at the British Consulate General lost their lives in the attack.

Among the four Britons believed killed in the bombing attacks are the British Consul General in Iraq, Roger Short, and a member of the British diplomatic staff, Lisa Hallworth.

Mr Straw, yesterday, expressed his condolences to the families of the bereaved: "The death of our staff, both British and Turkish, alongside other British and Turkish citizens in Istanbul is deeply shocking.

"They posed a threat to no-one. They were working in Istanbul to help British and Turkish citizens alike, in support of the strong relations between our two countries.

"On behalf of the British Government I express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of those killed."

Sixteen members of the London anti-terrorist police squad are in Istanbul assisting in the examination of the Consulate site.

(SP)