LONDON, January 6 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Speaking to around 150 British ambassadors summoned back to London to discuss the new priorities of the British foreign policies, U.K. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw embraced U.S. President George W. Bush’s “axis of evil” philosophy.

So far, the U.K. government has “has shied away from supporting President George W Bush’s view that Iraq, Iran and North Korea form an ‘axis of evil’ because their rulers pursue Doomsday weapons and support terrorist groups.”

However, in the unprecedented two day gathering Straw will make it clear that the government has “changed its views,” said the paper.

“Today, the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons presents the greatest threat to our national security, and to the peace of the world.

“September 11 showed that the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda would stop at nothing to inflict mass slaughter. If they were to manage to acquire WMD [weapons of mass destruction], I am certain they would use them.

“The most likely sources of technology and know-how for such terrorist organizations are rogue regimes which continue to flout their obligations under international law not to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

“This is why terrorism and rogue regimes are part of the same picture.” His comments mean that Britain is now much closer to sharing America’s analysis of the main threat to Western security, Straw said.

The Telegraph also reported that the U.K. does not publicly support the U.S.’s policy of seeking a regime change in Iraq.

Straw also said that the immediate aim of the government must be “the development of effective techniques to disrupt and eliminate terrorist groups which might attempt to acquire WMD. But we will also have to deter and remove the threat posed by hostile or unstable states which possess or are pursuing WMD.”

The Scotsman reported that during the two-day conference in London Straw will pay tribute to the work of British diplomats in “helping to create a better world in the wake of the fall of the Berlin wall – particularly their contribution to the enlargement of the EU and NATO to countries of the former Soviet bloc.”

The paper said that the meeting will also be addressed by “Prime Minister Tony Blair, International Development Secretary Clare Short and Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram.”

The Scotsman also said that this is the first time British diplomats have ever been brought together in this way – “although other countries such as France and Germany do hold similar gatherings on an annual basis.”

Issues to be considered range from the provision of travel advice to new “instant embassies” which could be set up at short notice in places such as the Afghan capital Kabul following the fall of the Taliban, said the paper.

It also said that the U.K. Foreign Office’s new strategic priorities will be published in full tomorrow after a year long review.

Mean while, U.K. defense secretary, Geoff Hoon, will inform the Commons this week of the mobilization of British forces, reported the Guardian.