G8 foreign ministers in London
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is today set to chair a key meeting of G8 foreign ministers in London.
Iran, the Middle East peace process and Afghanistan are all set to feature highly ahead of the Gleneagles summit next month.
The meeting will feature an address from the former head of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, who is now a special envoy to the Middle East.
Mr Wolfensohn is expected to give an overview of developments in the region ahead of the planned Israeli pull-out from Gaza.
Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah will also be at the meeting to push for more support in rebuilding the country and help in tackling the drugs trade that is fuelling instability and warlordism.
It is also an issue that affects Britain directly as Afghanistan currently supplies 90 per cent of the heroin on UK streets.
Britain is due to take over leadership of the international force of peacekeepers in Afghanistan in September.
