Turkey steps to the fore

Alliance-building: Jack Straw with Turkey's Ismail Cem

By the BBC's Firdevs Robinson in Ankara

As the focus of the debate moves towards nation-building in Afghanistan, Turkey seems to be stepping into the forefront of the international coalition.

Nato's only Muslim member state has already opened its airspace and bases to the United States and offered to train Afghan opposition forces.

Turkish public opinion is against military strikes

The Turkish Parliament gave wide powers to the government to send troops abroad but Turkey has been reluctant to get involved in combat.

Now the emphasis is on peace-keeping and post-conflict re-construction, Turkey looks more comfortable with the new role it may be asked to play.

It is up to Turkey to decide what it might do

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw

UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's visit this week put Turkey on the spot.

Mr Straw talked about the pivotal role Turkey would have but did not specify what this would be. "It is up to Turkey to decide what it might do" he said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem sees this as a peace-keeping function in regions that there is no fighting, presumably in areas where the Northern Alliance is in control.

Peace-keeping force

Turkey has close contacts with Afghan opposition commander General Rashid Dostum and provides financial and military support to his forces.

Neither Mr Straw nor Mr Cem confirmed reports that Turkey might lead an Islamic peace-keeping force.

Mediating role: Prime minister Bulent Ecevit

Turkey supports the UN general secretary's special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi's efforts to help negotiate an international force under the UN umbrella but nothing has been finalised yet.

Mr Brahimi is also discussing the formula for a broad-based government in post-Taliban Afghanistan.

On this, there seems to be differences of opinion. Whereas Britain and some Western powers don't rule out moderate elements of the Taleban taking part, Turkey foresees an alliance of opposition forces only.

Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that it was absolutely essential to secure an agreement between the opposition groups and that Turkey could bring them together.

Public opposition

Turkey's biggest concern is the spread of the conflict to Iraq.

The UK Foreign Secretary's statement that he sees no evidence of any connection between the government of Iraq and the terrorist attacks in the US was very welcome in Turkey.

Public opinion is against any military involvement in Afghanistan and the opposition parties in Turkey call for an end to military action.

The 11 September attacks have already damaged Turkey's fragile economy. Any escalation of the conflict would weaken the government's standing both in the Parliament and among the general public.