Free Republic

Prime Minister Tony Blair had a frank telephone exchange with French President Jacques Chirac today over his opposition to Britain's stance on Iraq. The 10-minute conversation was said to be "good natured", but both leaders expressed their firmly-held views. Earlier this week Downing Street accused France of injecting "poison" into the diplomatic process by threatening to veto any further UN resolution. Mr Blair's spokesman said: "The Prime Minister spoke to President Chirac at President Chirac's request. "President Chirac said he was willing to look at the tests the UK had put down in the United Nations but insisted there were...

Finally, the frustrated British government of Prime Minister Tony Blair lashed out at Jacques Chirac's French regime for blocking a British proposal for disarming Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. "What I find extraordinary is that without even proper consideration, the French government have decided that they will reject these proposals," said British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. And Duncan Smith, leader of the opposition Conservative party, met with Blair and said afterward that war appeared likely because of France. "He (Blair) made the reason for this as the fact that the French have become completely intransigent," he said. And privately, British officials...

PARIS (Reuters) - France, Germany and Russia on Thursday flatly rejected British proposals aimed at breaking a deadlock over a second U.N. resolution, reducing the chances of Washington getting United Nations backing for a war on Iraq. French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said Britain's idea of setting Baghdad specific tests of compliance with U.N. weapons inspectors was unacceptable as it was still based on the idea of setting a deadline for military action. Noting the British proposals did not address the key issue of seeking a peaceful end to the showdown with Iraq, Villepin said Paris rejected the "logic...

Defiant ... Mr Blair, suffering a heavy cold, still proved he is in charge TONY Blair yesterday stamped on wriggling anti-war worm Jacques Chirac. The PM blasted the French president’s threat to veto a new UN resolution on Iraq. Mr Blair also defied Labour rebels — and signalled he is ready to order British troops into battle against Iraq.In a storming Commons performance, he insisted he is still working “flat out” for peaceful disarmament.But he also issued a personal challenge to war wobblers, saying: “Why don’t we just work out the right thing to do — and do it.”Britain was...

UNITED NATIONS - The United States claimed progress Wednesday in its campaign for support for a March 17 ultimatum threatening war against Iraq but refused to rule out delaying or abandoning the Security Council vote if necessary. Britain, a key ally, proposed a "to-do" list for Saddam Hussein — six steps to avert war — in hopes of gaining votes for the resolution, which faces the threat of French and Russian vetoes. The British were expecting the United States and Spain to co-sponsor the proposal, but they didn't. So Britain was left alone to present the plan to the Security...

TONY Blair made his final gamble on winning United Nations approval for war with Iraq yesterday as he laid out a six-point ultimatum for Saddam Hussein to disarm. His plan triggered chaotic horsetrading at the UN headquarters in New York, leading a frustrated United States to demand a final decision by tomorrow. Mr Blair prepared for his move to end in failure yesterday, saying that he is prepared to send British troops to Iraq even without the UN’s authority. A defeated resolution could mean war by Sunday. Britain yesterday released a "tick list" of tasks for Saddam. They demand that...

France disallows the British proposal for five "conditions" France disallows the proposals of Great Britain to enumerate five "conditions" to which Iraq should satisfy to avoid a war, declared Thursday the Foreign Minister, Domenica de Villepin."Elles do not answer the questions put by the international community: it is not a question to grant a few additional days to Iraq before engaging in the recourse to the force, but to advance resolutely in the way of peaceful disarmament traced by the inspections which are a credible alternative to the war ", declared Mr. de Villepin in a communiqué.La Great Britain...

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- Britain set out a list of conditions for Iraq's disarmament Wednesday, hoping to break an impasse at the United Nations that has left Prime Minister Tony Blair vulnerable at home because of his support for the tough U.S. line. Winning a U.N. resolution on Iraq is politically vital for Blair, who could face a revolt from his own Labor party if he joins the United States in military action without U.N. backing. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld suggested Tuesday that Washington was considering war without Britain, its closest ally, by its side. Blair came under...

Britain set out a list of conditions for Iraq's disarmament, hoping to break an impasse at the United Nations (news - web sites) that has left Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) vulnerable at home because of his support for the tough U.S. line. The conditions include a TV appearance by Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) renouncing weapons of mass destruction. _ President Bush (news - web sites) spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites), Blair and the leaders of Mexico, Chile and Pakistan, all members of the Security Council, the White House said....

LONDON, March 12 — Following is an unofficial list of six British demands for Saddam Hussein, according to British officials: Mr. Hussein must admit on Iraqi television that he possesses weapons of mass destruction and will now disarm fully. He will account for and destroy stocks of anthrax and other biological and chemical weapons. Mr. Hussein will permit 30 scientists and their families to fly to Cyprus for interrogation by United Nations weapons inspectors. He will admit to possession of an unmanned drone aircraft discovered by inspectors. He will promise to destroy mobile production facilities for biological weapons. Mr. Hussein...