Blair to hold talks with Chirac and Schroeder

Prime Minister Tony Blair is to hold talks with French and German leaders in the next few days to discuss the ongoing war against terrorism, Downing Street said today.

He is expected to meet French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder at No10 on Sunday, although No10 would only confirm that talks would take place.

The discussions will be held before the premier embarks on another coalition-building trip next week, when he flies to Washington by Concorde to meet President George Bush on Wednesday.

Mr Blair’s director of communications, Alastair Campbell, told foreign journalists that the Prime Minister ‘‘hoped to have discussions with both President Chirac and Gerhard Schroeder’’.

He also hoped to talk to Spanish Premier Jose Maria Aznar next week, Mr Campbell added.