UK, U.S. TO HOLD TOP-LEVEL TALKS ON FIGHTING DRUGS

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's anti-drugs coordinator Keith Hellawell
and the director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy,
General Barry McCaffrey, will hold talks in London Monday on ways of
combating drug traffickers.

``It is important that we all work together to make sure that our
people and their communities are protected from the supply of illegal
drugs,'' McCaffrey said in a joint statement.

``Drug use in the United States has dropped by 50 percent over the
last two decades. Cocaine use is down 70 percent. Illicit drug
suppliers are now looking for new markets for their products.''

McCaffrey said he was keen to discuss how sport at all levels,
including the Olympic Games, could be made drug free.

Hellawell said drug misuse and related crime were among the most
serious issues affecting today's society. ``It is an international
problem that needs an international response,'' Hellawell said.