Blair adopts conciliatory tone over US plans

Whilst there is continued unity militarily between Britain and America's in Iraq, fractures are beginning to appear in the political coalition between Downing Street and the White House.

On a post-conflict Iraq, a number of newspapers have been running leaked plans from the US that would see the government of Iraq composed of 23 ministries led by US officials – each supported by four Iraqi advisers.

Retired US general Jay Garner – a president of weapons manufacturers SY Coleman – has been lined up to take over as a post-war governor and is currently laying up in Kuwait.

The plans, however, caused disquiet among backbenchers and opposition leaders during Prime Minister's Question Time in the Commons yesterday.

In the debate, Tony Blair conceded there would be some form of coalition-led transitional government, however, the future shape of any administration in the war-torn country would reside with Iraqi citizens.

"As soon as possible, Iraq should not be run either by the coalition or by the UN but should be run by Iraqis," he said.

"It should be run by Iraqi people on the basis of a broadly representative government who will protect human rights and be committed to peace and stability in the region. I am quite sure that that is what the vast majority of Iraqi people want."

When pressed again, he added: "It is in everyone's interests to get as quickly as possible to the point where the Iraqi Government is indeed Iraqi, not either UN-based or coalition force-based."

There has also been divergence on supposed Syrian and Iranian involvement in the war.

On Tuesday, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld delivered a stark warning that the US would view as "hostile acts" the supply of Iraqi forces across either countries' borders.

He went on to accuse Syria of sending night-vision goggles into the war zone for which they would be "held accountable" as such equipment could endanger the lives of US personnel.

However, the Prime Minister took a more conciliatory approach yesterday, telling MPs that the UK maintains relations with Iran and Syria to "ensure that those things do not happen".

He added: "It is important – particularly in relation to Iran – to recognise that we are in constant contact with them to ensure that the situation is not exacerbated in any way."

The British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw went further, affirming that the UK would not join in any action against Iraq or Syria.

(GMcG)