MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Blair and Bush in Iraq talks

Tony Blair is meeting US President George Bush for talks on Iraq, in the wake of a major report backing the withdrawal of most US combat troops by 2008 as part of a significant shift in tactics.

A change in direction in the coalition's war strategy is likely to top the agenda during the Prime Minister's third visit to the White House this year.

The two leaders are expected to use a press conference to set out their response to the Iraq Study Group's blunt assessment of American failings and their vision of future policy.

Yesterday, the bipartisan panel branded the situation in the country "grave and deteriorating" and urged Mr Bush to undertake a sharp U-turn by involving Iran and Syria - countries previously condemned as part of the "axis of evil" - in talks on its future.

Current policy was not working and "staying the course" was no longer viable, said the commission, headed by former US Secretary of State James Baker.

It warned that a new approach and an urgent diplomatic offensive including dealing directly with the Arab-Israeli conflict were vital to stop the bloodshed and a "slide towards chaos".

Within Iraq, the military focus should switch from combat to training and advising Iraqi troops, with US forces doing that job boosted to up to 20,000.

Mr Bush has insisted direct talks with Iran are impossible unless it proves it has halted its enrichment of uranium, while Syria should leave Lebanon for good and stop "harbouring terrorists".

Last month Mr Blair used a high-profile speech to offer "partnership" to Damascus and Tehran if they stopped supporting terrorism and met international obligations not to pursue nuclear arms.

The Prime Minister, who conceded yesterday that the coalition was not winning the war, will use the 24-hour visit to Washington to drive home his message that a solution in Iraq must be part of a "whole Middle East strategy".