LONDON, March 24: British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said that Britain’s role as lead nation in the international peacekeeping force in Kabul would be extended beyond next month, adding he could not be absolutely certain Turkey, the only Muslim member of Nato, would take the lead role in April as planned.

In an interview Mr Straw explained as the Turkish Government had delayed its decision to take over because of economic concerns British troops would have to remain in Kabul longer than previously thought.

Asked whether he thought Turkey would take over, Mr Straw said: “If you are asking me would I put money on them doing it, yes I would. Am I absolutely certain they will until they’ve, as it were, signed on the dotted line?

Mr Straw said the British troops will remain in Afghanistan until the terror network’s capacity of Al Qaeda to carry out atrocities like September 11 has been eliminated, but he added that the Marine commandos will not be “for very long”.

He wouldn’t be drawn, however, on accusations of Downing Street “spin” over a report that the Marines were being sent to Afghanistan because an Al Qaida biological and chemical weapons factory had been found in a cave.