Celebratory gunfire erupted in Baghdad today and world leaders – including the war’s most prominent opponents – hailed the capture of deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

PRESIDENTS George W Bush and Jacques Chirac smiled for the cameras yesterday at the start of a Group of Eight summit overshadowed by the US-French clash over the Iraq war and concern over Washington’s next moves.

World leaders clamped a harmonious face on a summit simmering with Iraq war disputes today, striking a united front with pledges of billions of dollars to fight Aids and hunger in poor nations.

EUROPEAN Union leaders vowed yesterday to put differences over the Iraq war behind them and said they were willing to work together and with the United States to rebuild the war-battered Arab country.

Britain’s UN ambassador Jeremy Greenstock is today expected to introduce a new Security Council resolution declaring Iraq in violation of obligations to disarm.

Germany and France renewed calls today to weapons inspectors more time in Iraq, hours before both countries’ leaders were to discuss their next diplomatic moves to avert war.

The new US draft resolution on Iraq today set off a final diplomatic push for tough new weapons inspections, backed by threats of force if Saddam Hussein continues to skirt his disarmament obligations.

US president George Bush gained important new Democratic support for his war resolution, bolstering his expected margin of victory in Congress for broad authority to use force against 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.