Bush and Blair plot Iraq strategy

The two leaders are holding three hours of discussions at the US president's retreat, Camp David, to discuss what can be done to stop Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein from developing and using weapons of mass destruction.

But while the UK Government has said the military option must not be ruled out, Mr Blair is also expected to urge Mr Bush to work through the United Nations Security Council to secure backing for tough action.

And two other key European leaders, French President Jacques Chirac and Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, have reaffirmed their opposition to a "unilateral US attack" on Iraq, after talks in Hanover.

The German chancellor has repeatedly stated his opposition to a US-led military attack on Iraq, even if approved by the United Nations.

Mr Chirac believes an attack on Iraq could not be justified without the support of the UN Security Council.

Arab hopes

It appears this view could be gaining some support in the Bush administration.

The Washington Post reports that the US president will leave open the possibility of a new round of UN weapons inspections when he addresses the UN next week.

Arab League General Secretary Amr Moussa has said that from his contacts with the Baghdad authorities he is optimistic a deal can be reached to allow the return of inspectors to Iraq.

Mr Bush and Mr Blair have been trying to enlist the support of the other permanent members of the Security Council - Russia, France and China - for military action.

Any one of them could veto a UN resolution backing such action.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin told Mr Bush on Friday that he had "serious doubts" about military action.

New UN resolution

Prior to talks with Mr Blair, President Bush said that satellite photographs released by a UN agency showed clear evidence that Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction.

"I don't know what more evidence we need," said Mr Bush.

Bush's diplomatic drive
Friday: Calls to leaders of Russia, China and France
Saturday: Talks with British PM
Monday: Meeting with Canadian PM
Thursday: Speech at the UN

The meeting between Mr Bush and Mr Blair, which they insist is not a council of war, will test just how open the president is to working through the UN and to giving diplomacy one last chance.

The two men could decide to ask the UN to pass a resolution putting the onus firmly on Iraq to prove that it is not developing chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

Mr Bush will address the UN General Assembly next Thursday - a year and a day after the attacks which triggered the war on terror.

Both the US and UK Governments say they have evidence that Iraq has biological and chemical weapons and the potential for a nuclear capability.

Mr Blair has promised to publish a dossier showing this in a few weeks' time.