Portugal PM may take top EU post

Durao Barroso's support for the Iraq war is controversial

Portugal says its Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso has been invited to become the European Commission's next president.

EU diplomats say the centre-right premier is winning approval to succeed Romano Prodi, now Spain and France have dropped earlier reservations.

European leaders are expected to name the new president at a special summit on Tuesday.

Last week's EU summit failed to reach agreement on a successor to Mr Prodi.

Conditions

Mr Durao Barroso, 48, leads Portugal's coalition government and has served as foreign minister. He is fluent in several European languages.

Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio has met the premier to discuss the offer, the president's office says

The Lusa news agency in Portugal says Mr Durao Barroso will announce whether or not he will accept the post on Saturday.

It is being predicted he will accept, on condition that he receives the unanimous approval of EU leaders.

Divisions

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who is conducting the search for the new head, said he would be discussing Mr Durao Barroso's appointment further with his EU counterparts this weekend.

"I'm as confident as I can be. I've put everyone on notice for the meeting on Tuesday night and I think at that, we will get agreement," Mr Ahern told RTE state television.

Ahern: Wants consensus on the choice

Mr Ahern, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency until 30 June, has indicated he will only call the meeting if he is sure of consensus around a single candidate.

Last week, contrasting views between Germany and France on the one hand and Britain and Italy on the other meant the 25 EU leaders failed to choose a new commission chief and had to postpone their decision.

It had been thought that Mr Durao Barroso's support of the US-led war in Iraq made him objectionable to some European countries, including France and Spain.

He had previously said he was not available for the post.