Bush cancels plan to aid Blair

President Bush tonight cancelled a plan to fly to London for talks with his beleaguered ally Tony Blair.

But the White House indicated that the President may be prepared to delay a UN vote on his Iraq war resolution until next week.

A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the president decided a few extra days of diplomacy might help Mr Blair, who is facing stiff domestic opposition to war while he tries to forge a compromise.

“It may conclude tomorrow. It may continue into next week,” White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said one option was to drop plans for a Security Council vote.

“We are still talking to members of the Council to see what is possible,” Powell told a House Appropriations subcommittee.

He said the options under consideration include “to go for a vote and not to go for a vote.”

The administration had been pushing for a vote by Friday.