Bush thanks Turkey for leading peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan
Calls Turkey "a model for Muslims of a secular and democratic state"
Associated Press, ANKARA, Turkey, June 25 - U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday thanked Turkey for taking command of the international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, calling Turkey a model for Muslims of a secular and democratic state.

Turkey took control of the 4,000-member multinational force from Britain last week. "Turkey's participation and leadership in the war on terrorism deepens our country's strategic partnership and provides Muslims around the world a hopeful model of a modern and secular democracy," Bush wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.

Turkey, a secular state, has strongly supported Washington's war against terrorism. Turkey is struggling with a deep economic crisis, but agreed to take over the mission following promises from the U.S. administration that it would appeal to Congress for $ 200 million in economic aid and $ 28 million in military aid.

The United States "will continue to work closely with your government and other contributing nations to ensure ISAF's success under Turkey's leadership," Bush said. ISAF is the international peacekeeping force.

The peacekeepers have been patrolling Kabul since January, supporting the interim government and helping a new police force after U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban regime.