Straw was due to meet his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Hamad bin Jasem bin Jabr al-Thani Monday night, and visit the US Central Command's war base in Qatar on Tuesday.

He was to travel to Saudi Arabia Tuesday before heading to Athens for a European Union summit on Wednesday. He is accompanied on his trip by Britain's chief of defense staff, Admiral Sir Michael Boyce.

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.

In Kuwait, Straw said Syria must realise there is a "new reality" after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in neighbouring Iraq.

SPACE.WIRE