http://www.abc.net.au/news/justin/nat/newsnat-22mar2003-3.htm
European Union (EU) divisions over Iraq have widened after Britain stood by charges that France prevented a peaceful solution to the crisis, while three anti-war states called a separate summit on defence integration.
As EU leaders held a second day of tense talks, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt announced plans for France, Germany and Belgium to meet next month to discuss integrating their armed forces.
The moves plunged the EU back into crisis hours after the 15 leaders had papered over their splits with a statement pledging support for UN humanitarian relief efforts and urging Iraq's neighbours not to make mischief.
Britain, which has committed 45,000 troops to the US-led Iraq campaign, accuses France, leader of the anti-war camp, of scuppering diplomacy by threatening to veto any UN Security Council resolution on military enforcement of disarmament.
Asked whether he regretted attacks on Paris that drew an angry protest from his French counterpart, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said: "I stand by the words I have used".
"I don't regret the fact that we have argued, that we disagree with the French position, because we do."
Muscling up to UK, US
The defence initiative apparently is designed to isolate Britain, Europe's biggest military power.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, looking tired and drawn after Britain suffered its first casualties of the war in a helicopter crash, shook hands and accepted consolation from German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, another vocal opponent of military action, at the start of the second day of the summit.
French President Jacques Chirac entered the room only after cameras had been ushered out, avoiding being photographed with Mr Blair.
Mr Verhofstadt told the Belgian news agency, Belga: "In April Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, President Jacques Chirac and I will meet in Brussels to discuss a stronger integration of our respective forces."
His Foreign Minister, Louis Michel, said closer defence integration is the only way for Europe to be taken seriously as an entity by the US.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker applauded the initiative, telling reporters: "This is not a closed shop. I expect others would join. It's the logical consequence of the differences of recent weeks."
A British official said London would look at the proposal if and when it materialised "but frankly this is not the story".