Blair gags Short on Iraq

Tony Blair has carpeted the international development secretary, Clare Short, for expressing reservations about the prospect of Britain joining the US in an attack on Iraq.

The incident, rare for Mr Blair who dislikes such confrontation, highlights the prime minister's sensitivity over Iraq and the strain it is placing on his government.

His awkward face-to-face meeting with Ms Short took place in private at Downing Street just ahead of the last cabinet meeting before Easter.

News of their tête-à-tête, which lasted barely five minutes, emerged as Mr Blair prepared to fly to Texas to discuss with the US president, George Bush, over the weekend how to deal with the Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein.

According to government insiders, Mr Blair is privately reconciled to British involvement in military action if that is the route Mr Bush chooses. But they said he intended to push Mr Bush in several key areas and that high on his agenda would be an assurance that any action against Iraq would be preceded by the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Afghanistan war.