Chirac urges joint Iraq effort

Chirac urges joint Iraq effort

Blair and Chirac have not seen eye-to-eye over Iraq

French President Jacques Chirac wants France and Britain to work closely together with the United Nations in post-war Iraq, his office has said.

Mr Chirac's office said UK Prime Minister Tony Blair had telephoned him on Saturday to update him on Mr Blair's meeting with US President George W Bush this week.

"They are agreed on the importance of the role of the UN after the conflict and want France and Britain to work closely together on the subject," a spokesman said.

Chirac's staunch opposition to war on Iraq sparked a fierce diplomatic row between the two countries, after France threatened to veto a UN resolution setting a deadline for Saddam Hussein to disarm.

EURO SUMMIT STATEMENT

Full and effective disarmament of Iraq

Central role of UN during and after conflict

Commitment to sending humanitarian aid

Work towards re-invigoration of the Middle East peace process

Strengthening of the transatlantic partnership

Click here to read full text of statement

President Chirac is reported to have said the action in Iraq violated international law.

And there was a frosty atmosphere at a recent European summit after the very public disagreements.

On Saturday, Mr Chirac also offered his condolences for the loss of British troops in the war.

But he raised his concerns about the direction the conflict was taking, and expressed his hope it would be over quickly with the minimal damage possible.

Both he and Mr Blair have said they want the UN to be at the centre of efforts to rebuild Iraq.

At last week's European summit, France, Germany and Belgium criticised the US-led war, but Britain and five other nations - Spain, Italy, Portugal, Denmark and the Netherlands - supported it.

At that stage, France would not discuss the post-war reconstruction of Iraq in case that implied support for the war.