Bush phone campaign gets a poor reception

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.

Bush telephoned leaders of China, Russia and France, but he made little noticeable progress on his plan to oust the Iraqi leader.

He was joined in the diplomatic blitz by his staunchest ally, British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who spoke to French President Jacques Chirac and Russian President Vladimir Putin.