Blair and Bush at Camp David summit

President Bush and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair have held their first summit at Camp David outside Washington.

They discussed a wide range of issues, including the planned new US missile defence system, plans for a European rapid reaction force, and western policy on Iraq.

The BBC correspondent covering the talks says Mr Bush offered something of an endorsement of the new European force, which is designed to deal with regional troublespots.

For his part, Mr Blair said he welcomed a debate over nuclear defence and understood American concerns over proliferation.

And he praised President Bush for his attempts to reach out to opponents of the missile plan, including many of America's allies, Russia and China.

On Iraq, in the wake of the recent airstrikes, both leaders said they discussed ways of making sanctions against Baghdad more effective -- but gave few details. 23/02/2001 22:17:31 AvW x72656

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service

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