EU may oppose action against Iraq

European Commission President Romano Prodi has warned Britain and the United States that the EU might oppose American-led military action against Iraq.

Mr Prodi says US President George Bush still needs to convince the Europeans that fresh action against Saddam Hussein is justified.

His comments, on the final day of the EU summit in Barcelona, are likely to irritate Tony Blair, who has insisted that Iraq's programme to acquire an arsenal of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons is an issue which must be dealt with.