Diplomacy will be a key tool in preventing future conflicts similar to that in Afghanistan, Jack Straw has said.

In a speech on Monday, the foreign secretary said improved diplomatic contact would be vital in creating an early warning system that could prevent the rise of groups like al Qaeda.

Britain had played a vital role since September 11 in the alliance against terrorism Straw claimed in his speech to the Foreign Policy Centre.

He also signalled his support for military action against Iraq - which puts him in direct confrontation with cabinet minister Clare Short and a growing number of Labour backbenchers.

Talking tough, Straw said it was "time to push back the boundaries of chaos" around the world.

"Our challenge is to stave off the Afghanistans of the future. We must not be found wanting," he said.

He argued there was also a financial gain from early diplomatic intervention that avoided military resolution. He pointed to the three British interventions in the Balkans which showed "diplomacy is good value for money".

The failure to halt the slide into war in the Balkans had led to thousands of UN troops being drawn into peacekeeping missions which had cost the UK taxpayers more than £1.5 billion.

By comparison the Macedonia mission last year to oversee the handing over of weapons had cost just £14 million.

"What we need is not so much a diplomacy of hindsight but rather a diplomacy of foresight," Straw argued. "Diplomacy is good value for money, action upstream can prevent the need for more costly remedies downstream."