Wide-ranging chat for Blair and Putin

Important agreements were signed during Mr Putin's UK visit

Prime Minister Tony Blair discussed Iraq and the Middle East in a phone conversation with Russian president Vladimir Putin on Friday.

The two leaders also talked about Mr Putin's recent visit to Britain, when he became the first Russian president to visit on a full state occasion for more than 100 years.

In a statement, Mr Putin's press service said he and Mr Blair praised the June visit, which it said produced "important agreements" aimed at stepping up political and economic co-operation.

The statement pointed to agreements "in the sphere of investment, including in the energy sector" and said Mr Putin and Mr Blair stressed the importance of their "practical realisation."

The 15-minute phone call also touched on the North Korea situation, Downing Street confirmed.

Gas agreement

During Mr Putin's visit, the British and Russian energy ministers signed an agreement on a natural gas pipeline from Russia to Britain, and the leaders discussed Russian energy deals by oil giants BP and Royal Dutch Shell.

Mr Putin and Mr Blair also discussed co-operation in international affairs, including in the situation in Iraq and Mideast settlement efforts, the Kremlin said.

Russia strongly opposed the US and British invasion of Iraq, and Mr Putin gave Mr Blair a cold reception during a visit to Moscow to discuss post-war Iraq, but the two healed their divisions over the issue during Putin's visit to Britain.