Turkey to head Afghanistan force

ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkey says it has agreed to take over from Britain the command of peacekeeping duties in Afghanistan.

A cabinet statement said Turkey will carry out the task for six months, but that the exact date of transfer would be decided following talks between the countries involved and the United Nations.

Turkey already has about 270 troops in Kabul as part of the 18-nation security force, which is responsible for patrolling the city and its surrounding areas.

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The statement said that contingent would increase but did not specify by how much.

Earlier this month, British officials said they did not anticipate a handover taking place before June.

Turkey, a NATO member, was the first Muslim country to contribute troops to the mission.

Turkey has previously said it would enlarge its force to about 1,000 troops if it assumed command.

Britain has led the 4,500-strong force since the U.N. Security Council established it in late December. Britain had wanted to hand over command in April.

Turkey earlier offered to take over command of the mission but was concerned that sending a large Turkish force would be too costly for a country that is facing a difficult economic crisis.

Turkey also insisted the United States provide cargo planes and that Britain leave behind some of the facilities it set up for the peacekeepers.