Blair holds Germany talks

Iraq is thought to have dominated the dinner

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has met German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Hanover for talks, which were expected to be dominated by the escalating crisis over Iraq.

Germany has said it will not provide troops for action in Iraq

Officials have said only that a wide range of issues were due to be discussed during an informal dinner at Mr Schroeder's residence.

Neither leader is expected to make any statement on the meeting.

But, with both men taking very different sides on the prospect of military action in the Gulf, much of their meal was expected to be taken up by the issue.

While Mr Blair has allied himself with the United States in supporting the possibility of military action, Mr Schroeder campaigned in recent German elections with an anti-war message.

He has said that Germany will not provide combat troops for any war even if it is endorsed by the United Nations Security Council.

Germany recently became a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and will hold the presidency in February, when many expect a decision to be made over the prospect of military action.

Compromise?

Correspondents say that Mr Blair cannot afford to ignore Mr Schroeder's undoubtedly firm opinions.

However, the BBC's David Bamford says there could be scope for a compromise of ideas, with both men having recently modified their positions.

Mr Blair has recently suggested that the 27 January deadline for UN monitors in Iraq to report back to the UN Security Council should not be an automatic trigger for war, even if the weapons inspectors' report does not clear Iraq of possessing weapons of mass destruction.

And the German chancellor said on Friday that a German vote for a UN decision to attack Iraq could not be ruled out.

This statement led to accusations from German anti-war politicians of backing down, our correspondent says.