Blair speaks to Chirac on Iraq

Prime Minister Tony Blair had a frank telephone exchange with French President Jacques Chirac today over his opposition to Britain's stance on Iraq.

The 10-minute conversation was said to be "good natured", but both leaders expressed their firmly-held views.

Earlier this week Downing Street accused France of injecting "poison" into the diplomatic process by threatening to veto any further UN resolution.

Mr Blair's spokesman said: "The Prime Minister spoke to President Chirac at President Chirac's request.

"President Chirac said he was willing to look at the tests the UK had put down in the United Nations but insisted there were no circumstances in which France would countenance any UN resolution which authorised or implied military action should the tests not be met.

"And he said he would not accept an ultimatum to Saddam.

"The Prime Minister said that without a credible threat that military action would be used to enforce the will of the United Nations, there would never be the necessary pressure on Saddam to disarm.

"The Prime Minister also pointed out that Resolution 1441 was clear. It gave Saddam a final opportunity and warned of serious consequences if he failed to comply.

"He had failed to comply yet again, as he had done with previous resolutions, as everyone accepted."

The unusually full account of the conversation reflected Britain's impatience with the French stance, which Downing Street believes scuppered a deal that only a few days ago could have been achieved at the UN.

The UK has proposed six tests for Saddam to pass to prove he has had a "strategic" change of mind about complying with 1441.

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