The US is waiting to find out whether Turkey will offer key logistical support for a possible attack on Iraq. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul is due to announce on Friday whether Turkey will accept a compensation offer in return for allowing US troops to use its military bases. Although the US has said it will not increase the size of the offer, a State Department spokesman said the two countries had been working to restructure the package.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has meanwhile said that the "ample" American and British troops now in the Gulf were ready for military action against Iraq.

Ankara Hopes for a Better Deal

US officials have indicated that the money on table amounts to DLRS. 6bn in grants and up to DLRS. 20bn in loan guarantees.

Observers say Ankara has delayed answering the American request, hoping for a better deal.

Popular opinion in the country is almost totally opposed to a war on Iraq.

Turkey argues that its economy suffered a loss of tens of billions of dollars as a result of the 1991 Gulf War, and that it had little input in subsequent decisions affecting the area, particularly northern Iraq.

The situation is further complicated by calls from many within the Turkish leadership for a second United Nations Security Council resolution on Iraq, authorizing the use of force, to be adopted before the Americans are allowed in.

Other Key Developments Concerning Iraq

*_ The United States and Britain will offer a new Iraq-war resolution to the U.N. Security Council next week, a senior administration official said. The official indicated the resolution would be pushed forward whether the United States had the votes or not.

*_ Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said U.N. weapons inspectors were being pressured to provide a pretext for war on Iraq. He said Russia had not ruled out using its Security Council veto against a resolution calling for force against Iraq.

*_ President Bush sought to keep the pressure on the Security Council, telling a suburban Atlanta audience, "Denial and endless delay in the face of growing danger is not an option."

*_ Iraq allowed another flight by an American U-2 spy plane as President Saddam Hussein's government sought to convince the world that it is cooperating with U.N. weapons inspectors. It was the second flight this week by a U-2 in support of the U.N. inspection program.

*_ A U.N. spokesman said Baghdad had also submitted a list of people reportedly involved in the destruction of material from its biological and missile programs - fulfilling a key demand by chief weapons inspector Hans Blix. Iraq had already submitted a list of 83 people who it said took part in the destruction of banned chemical weapons and materials.

*_ Saddam convened his top aides and military commanders to prepare for a possible war with the United States and to discuss how to "inflict defeat on the evil aggressors."

*_ Former Air Force Master Sgt. Brian Patrick Regan was convicted of offering to sell U.S. intelligence information to Iraq and China. He was acquitted of attempted spying for Libya.

PHOTO CAPTION

Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul is seen during an interview in his office in the capital city of Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003