Blair speaks with Pakistan president

Prime Minister Tony Blair today spoke by telephone to Pakistan’s President Pervaiz Musharraf as part of what Downing Street described as a ‘‘continual conversation’’ with world leaders on the current crisis.

Downing Street said that the 15-minute conversation was ‘‘good and helpful’’ and that the leaders would remain in touch.

A spokesman had earlier said that Mr Blair welcomed Pakistan’s condemnation of the US attacks and agreement to co-operate with efforts to track down the perpetrators.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw this morning revealed that British intelligence had independently confirmed the US belief that bin Laden was the ‘‘prime suspect’’ for masterminding the attacks on New York’s World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, in Washington.