'Old Europe' hits back with four letter fusillade
In one outburst after another, French and German ministers lashed out at the US defence secretary today with one even evoking a four-letter word, in the clearest sign yet the Iraqi crisis has split the Atlantic alliance.
President Jacques Chirac was forced to intervene to calm nerves and stop the spat between the former Cold War allies from spiralling into a full-blown diplomatic crisis.
