This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6543479.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Foreign policy 'undermining UK' Foreign policy 'undermining UK'
(about 1 hour later)
The UK's ability to be an international force for good has been undermined by foreign policy errors, a report from charity Oxfam argues.The UK's ability to be an international force for good has been undermined by foreign policy errors, a report from charity Oxfam argues.
But it also warns against the UK drawing back from a policy of trying to solve the world's worst crises.But it also warns against the UK drawing back from a policy of trying to solve the world's worst crises.
It would be disastrous if the "misadventure in Iraq" led to the next prime minister not attempting to resolve other conflicts, Oxfam says.It would be disastrous if the "misadventure in Iraq" led to the next prime minister not attempting to resolve other conflicts, Oxfam says.
The government said the past decade of foreign policy had been "effective".The government said the past decade of foreign policy had been "effective".
Damaged relations Meanwhile, a separate report by the Oxford Research Group (ORG) has warned that British and US policy towards Iraq has "spawned new terror in the region".
The Oxfam report, A Fair Foreign Policy, argues that the positive effect of interventions in Sierra Leone and Kosovo should not be forgotten. 'Damaged relations'
The report also claims that wider policy towards the Middle East - and not just Iraq - has soured relations between many developing countries and the UK, based partly on a perception of double standards. The Oxfam report, A Fair Foreign Policy, argues that the positive effect of interventions in Sierra Leone and Kosovo should not be forgotten amid debate about Iraq.
It calls for refocusing foreign policy towards protecting civilians as well as challenging human rights abuses by friends as well as enemies.
An online survey of 2,374 adults conducted for Oxfam showed that 67% of people would support Britain sending troops as a last resort to stop genocide and other atrocities in the future.An online survey of 2,374 adults conducted for Oxfam showed that 67% of people would support Britain sending troops as a last resort to stop genocide and other atrocities in the future.
It calls for foreign policy to refocus on protecting civilians, as well as challenging human rights abuses by friends as well as enemies.
But the report also says that wider policy towards the Middle East - and not just Iraq - has soured relations between many developing countries and the UK, based partly on a perception of double standards.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We have rightly focused on 'hard' security issues such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and Sierra Leone as well as 'softer' issues such as climate change and poverty eradication.A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We have rightly focused on 'hard' security issues such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and Sierra Leone as well as 'softer' issues such as climate change and poverty eradication.
"We disagree that the UK now exercises less influence because of Iraq."We disagree that the UK now exercises less influence because of Iraq.
"On the contrary the UK remains at the heart of every major international debate and our influence as consensus builders is recognised worldwide.""On the contrary the UK remains at the heart of every major international debate and our influence as consensus builders is recognised worldwide."
Meanwhile, the Oxford Research Group has warned that British and US policy towards Iraq has "spawned new terror in the region". Training zone
It said the continuing military action had increased the likelihood of terrorist attacks on the scale of 9/11. The ORG study argues that by including Iraq in the "war on terror", Britain and the US have "created a combat training zone for jihadists".
The strategy has also "emboldened" Iran, Syria and North Korea and led to a resurgence of the Taleban in Afghanistan, it said.
And it added that the continuing military action has increased the likelihood of terrorist attacks on the scale of 9/11.