AS the Iraq crisis comes to a head, Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw still found time to take questions at his regular 'soapbox'session in Blackburn centre.

Roger Airey reports...

FOR the man at the centre of the biggest international security crisis for over a decade, the diplomatic whirl of the last ten days has been more hectic than ever.

Jack Straw has been over to New York to meet United Nations Secretary General Kofi Anaan and chief weapons inspector Hans Blix, met with several foreign ministers, carried out Parliamentary duties and given a hugely important speech to the Security Council.

But his engagement on Saturday was with the people of Blackburn at the less formal location of a bench outside Marks and Spencer in King William Street.

Shopping all but ground to a halt in Blackburn town centre for 45 minutes, as residents got the chance to question the Foreign Secretary.

And they seized it eagerly, quizzing Mr Straw on all aspects of the Iraqi crisis, such as why is the Government not getting tough on other tyrants in other countries and whether Britain would pay for the reconstruction of Iraq after a war.

Mr Straw said: "We never announce the soapbox sessions because of security reasons but the turnout was good. The questions were excellent and people were up for conversation.

"It's tremendously important to me to get back up here to meet my constituents.

"During this visit to Blackburn I've met the Lancashire Council of Mosques and we spoke about their concerns regarding Iraq. I speak with Colin Powell about three times a day and I tell him about the feelings of the Muslim community locally.

"In my surgery I have met six Iraqi refugees in Blackburn who have all told of the desperate plight of Iraq. They say everybody knows someone who has lost their lives at the hands of Saddam Hussein.

"I wouldn't say it's the most important week of my political career but some of the decisions I'm having to make are certainly the most momentous."

But its not all work, work, work, even for a Foreign Secretary on the verge of war.

Mr Straw said: "You have to relax and unwind as well or it can affect your decision-making. I relax by going to the gym at least twice a week and I like walking and cycling. "I'm having to miss the Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal game today I've had to give my tickets away.

After the soapbox session, Mr Straw was whisked away in his silver Volkswagen people carrier to go back to London.

An anti-war protester handing out leaflets shouted at him but one onlooker Jamshid Mirsadi, who moved to Blackburn from Iran 30 years ago, went up to Mr Straw at the end of the session to shake his hand and thank him.

He said: "Whether you agree with him or not you have to admire his effort for coming to Blackburn at this busy time."