European leaders divided over support for war in Iraq

AS the world waits to hear today what the US insists is compelling proof that Baghdad has arms of mass destruction, EU leaders are desperately trying to cobble together a unified stance.

So far, every effort has underlined the huge divisions between the current member states and the candidate countries. A public letter signed by eight EU leaders last week supporting Washington was seen as a direct riposte to the anti-war stance of France and Germany.

Now, there is a sense of panic in Brussels with the feeling the countdown to war has begun. European politicians are terrified once again they will be seen as impotent and be left on the sidelines. The position of the key EU players on Iraq at present is: