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.

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.