The Kremlin went on a media offensive today, giving its own version of a conversation between the US and Russian presidents about American claims that Moscow illicitly sold military equipment to Iraq.

Prime Minister Tony Blair was today flying to the US for crucial talks with President George W Bush over how to halt Saddam Hussein’s efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction.

A FLURRY of telephone calls from US President George Bush to world leaders, in a bid to drum up support for an attack on Saddam Hussein, fell on deaf ears yesterday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Tony Blair today that he has serious reservations about using force to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.