Less than a fifth of Barclays existing shareholders opted to buy new shares in the bank as part of a £4.5bn (€5.7bn) fund raising scheme, the company said today.

Barclays today outlined plans for a £4.5bn (€5.7bn) cash injection from wealthy overseas investors as part of a move to boost its balance sheet.

President Bush’s call to deal with Iraq and its weapons of mass destruction was studied by Arabs - some said in vain - for signs war could be avoided.