Blair and Bush hold private breakfast meeting

The British prime minister and the US President have had a private breakfast together as the G8 summit continues in Evian, France.

The hour-long talks between Tony Blair and George Bush, the two main leaders of the coalition forces in the recent war against the Iraq regime of Saddam Hussein, were held as criticism grows over the lack of evidence of weapons of mass destruction held by the former Iraqi regime. Also thought to be high on the breakfast agenda was the road map for the Middle East peace process and the world economy.

The G8 Summit has attracted 20 world leaders including the official G8, the UK, US, France, Germany, Canada, Japan, Italy and Russia. The final meeting is due to take place tomorrow as media attention has focused on the patching up of relations between the US and the anti-war faction in Europe.

The prime minister’s role at the G8 Summit appears to have been one of go-between as the recent frosty relations between the US and some European countries, in particular France, apparently continue unabated.

Last night France responded negatively to a joint US-British proposal to limit weapons of mass destruction, a move that would effectively have outflanked France.

A defiant Jacques Chirac, host to the other world leaders, resisted pressure that sought to emphasise the war on terror as a main agenda item on the summit, and spoke of a ‘multipolar’ world.

French officials raised objections to an American and British proposal to stop and search ships and aircraft suspected to be carrying weapons of mass destruction.

Impatient at meetings bereft of action and keen to spend as little time on French soil as possible, Mr Bush was understood to have wanted to leave Evian early.

While a face-to-face meeting yesterday between the US president and the French president saw a brief handshake and forced smiles exchanged, today the two appeared more relaxed.

Mr Bush said that though there had been disagreements, there was no need to be disagreeable.

The G8 summit leaders later issued a statement on weapons of mass destruction. In particular Iran and North Korea were warned to comply with internationally accepted nuclear safeguards.

(SP)