Straw flew in to Kuwait City's international airport at around 10:00 am (0700 GMT), the officials said.

The British embassy here said he was scheduled to hold a media conference later Monday.

Straw arrived from Bahrain, where he kicked off his tour Sunday by holding talks with King Hamad.

After Kuwait, Straw is expected in Qatar and Saudi Arabia before heading to Athens for a European Union summit on Wednesday. He is accompanied on his trip by Britain's chief of defence staff, Michael Boyce.

Britain has started withdrawing some of its forces from the Gulf region following Baghdad's fall to US troops last week.

Kuwait served as the launching pad for the invasion of Iraq and continues to play a key role in providing passage for logistical and humanitarian supplies.

Separately, Straw's minister for Middle East affairs, Mike O'Brien, was dispatched to Iran and Syria, key players in how the Middle East will emerge in the wake of the collapse of Saddam's regime.

SPACE.WIRE