UK plays down US rift

UK plays down US rift

The US is preparing for war without its closest ally

Tony Blair's official spokesman has sought to dispel speculation that American troops might go to war with Iraq without British involvement.

The developments came after US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld sparked diplomatic confusion by suggesting the US had alternative plans if there was no second UN resolution and the UK decided not to go to war with Iraq.

The remarks - later retracted - caused shock and surprise in Downing Street, which chose to focus on continuing efforts to secure a new United Nations resolution.

The prime minister's official spokesman insisted on Wednesday that British troops would play a "significant" role if the UK thought war with Iraq was necessary.

With one brief comment he has managed to blow a series of massive holes in the prime minister's armour

BBC correspondent Nick Assinder

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Earlier on Wednesday the UK's Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said Mr Rumsfeld had been referring to a "theoretical possibility" that British troops might not be involved.

Mr Hoon added: "He has every reason to believe there will be a significant military contribution from the UK."

Mr Hoon also suggested there might not need to be a second United Nations resolution to give the go ahead for war.

Asked if the existing resolution 1441 could in itself provide the authority to go to war, he said: "Certainly it is possible to read 1441 in that way".

Downing Street

Rebel Labour backbenchers seized on Mr Rumsfeld's remarks and are expected to urge Tony Blair at House of Commons question time on Wednesday to withdraw British military involvement.

The diplomatic flurry came as the prime minister said he was willing to work "night and day" to secure enough common ground among UN security council members for agreement on a new resolution.

They (the US) can do it without us and give Tony Blair the chance to get out of the hole if he wishes

Graham Allen MP
Labour rebel

Doubts over troops readiness
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Mr Rumsfeld told reporters the UK's role was "unclear" because of Tony Blair's difficulties in convincing a rebellious Parliament of the need for military action.

Asked if he meant the US would go to war without its closest ally, he added: "That is an issue that the president will be addressing in the days ahead, one would assume."

A Downing Street spokeswoman insisted: "This has not changed anything. We are still working to get a second resolution. We are not at this stage (war) yet.

"But there has been complete cooperation throughout between the United Kingdom and United States on the military planning."

Weapons tests

Within the hour, Mr Rumsfeld tried to clarify his comments with a statement saying he had "no doubt" in "a significant military contribution from the United Kingdom."

But Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Menzies Campbell told BBC's Newsnight that Mr Rumsfeld's comments appeared to "devalue Britain's military contribution and hence its political influence".

Anti-war Labour MP Graham Allen said: "The cat is out of the bag. They can do it without us and give Tony Blair the chance to get out of the hole if he wishes."

The prime minister's frantic international negotiations continue on Wednesday at dinner with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder at Downing Street.

After talks with the Portuguese and Romanian prime ministers on Tuesday, Mr Blair warned that Saddam Hussein will be "let off the hook" if France or Russia uses a veto over a further UN resolution.

I don't think it is possible to exaggerate the degree of concern about the illegality of what is proposed

Tam Dalyell

Blair challenge threat
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UK diplomats at the UN have proposed a series of tests they say Baghdad should fulfil within a set time to prove that it is ready to hand over its weapons.

The proposals are part of an attempt to win wider support for a new UN resolution that gives the Iraqi leader a deadline to disarm before war.

Mr Blair hopes the plan will break the UN deadlock and ease mounting political pressure at home following an attack on his strategy by Clare Short, the international development secretary.

On Tuesday, six undecided UN members - Cameroon, Angola, Chile, Guinea, Mexico and Pakistan - suggested a 45-day deadline for Iraq to disarm.

But this was rejected by America, which is insisting that a UN vote on war against Iraq will happen this week.