President Clinton says the United States has all the support it needs for its policy on Iraq, and all options are on the table.

He was speaking to reporters in Washington about the Middle East tour by the defence secretary, William Cohen, who has been discussing Iraq's refusal to co-operate with United Nations weapons inspectors.

The Iraqis say there is little regional support for military action, but President Clinton said Mr Cohen was having what he called a good trip.

The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has repeated that the international community must be prepared to use force against Iraq if necessary and the foreign minister, Robin Cook, said the international community already had a mandate to mount air strikes.