Blair meets with Schroeder

The British prime minister Tony Blair is to meet with his opposite number in Germany Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder later today.

Anglo-German relations of late have been frosty as Mr Schroeder has been a vociferous critic of the coalition strategy and the timing of the war in Iraq.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister's Official spokesperson said: "It is no secret that there was a difference of opinion between the UK and Germany regarding the military conflict in Iraq. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister believes that we need to work together to move forwards."

The spokesperson said that in the meeting Mr Blair would be seeking to focus on strategies for peace and reconstruction in Iraq. These strategies, though, have run into severe difficulties.

Aid convoys in Kuwait and the Iraqi port of Umm Qsar are being delayed as aid agencies concerned about the security situation inside Iraq are reluctant to run the gauntlet of Iraqi irregulars and paramilitaries who are continuing to mount sporadic attacks on coalition forces.

A conference to be held between local leaders in southern Iraq has run into problems concerning US involvement in rebuilding Iraq. One of the largest Shia groups are refusing to take part in the conference which it was hoped would be the first step toward democratisation in the region following the removal of the regime of Saddam Hussein. The Shia leaders, unhappy about US involvement, are seeking assurances that there will be a UN role in the process of rebuilding Iraq.

The European leaders are to meet again on Wednesday at a summit in Athens with the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

(SP)