LONDON - British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was in the main southern Iraqi city of Basra on Friday to meet local politicians following the countryâs general election, the Foreign Office said. âItâs an opportunity for him to meet local politicians since weâve just had the successful elections in December,â a Foreign Office spokesman told AFP.Straw was to hear the discussions going on in Iraq amongst the various parties about the formation of a new government, he said. âIn Basra, heâs meeting the governor, members of the cityâs ruling council and other politicians to discuss those issues and obviously heâll be getting an update on the security situation.â