Blair goes to Madrid for funeral

Mr Blair and Mr Aznar have enjoyed a close relationship

Tony Blair has arrived in Spain to join mourners for Wednesday's state funeral for more than 200 victims of the Madrid train terror attacks.

The prime minister will join Prince Charles and other foreign dignitaries for the service at Madrid's Almudena Cathedral on Wednesday.

He is also due to hold talks with Spain's prime minister elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

His socialist party swept to power just days after the terror attacks.

1,200 injured

There have also been unconfirmed reports Mr Blair is due to meet the Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi.

BBC political editor Andrew Marr told BBC News Downing Street had not confirmed the reports.

"But assuming that that's going to happen it would make this an absolutely remarkable week," he said.

He said it would mean Mr Blair leaving one event that mourned the loss of more than 200 people to terrorism, and going into talks with a man whose regime was responsible for the death of 270 people in the Lockerbie bombings.

On Tuesday Mr Blair had dinner with outgoing premier Jose Maria Aznar who supported the US-led invasion of Iraq - a policy opposed by Mr Zapatero.

The attacks on 11 March left 200 people dead and more than 1,200 injured.

Ten bombs exploded on four trains during the busy morning rush hour. A total of 14 people have been arrested over the blasts.

Mr Zapatero has said he wants to withdraw Spain's 1,300 troops from Iraq.

Mr Blair will want to try to persuade his Spanish counterpart to reverse his decision.

Security

Mr Blair is due to fly on from Spain to Lisbon for talks with Portuguese prime minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso.

Mr Barroso also backed the war in Iraq.

The Atocha bombings led to calls for improved security

Mr Blair is also expected to attend a summit of EU leaders, where the fight against international terrorism and the situation in Iraq are likely to dominate the agenda.

The Madrid tragedy has led to calls for improved security in the UK to tackle such atrocities and more police have been deployed to railway stations.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw met European colleagues on Monday to discuss measures to combat international terrorism in the wake of the bombings.

German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, French President Jacques Chirac and US secretary of state Colin Powell are also due to attend the Madrid service.