Bush, Brown stress joint view on Iraq, Mideast

Camp David (Md)., July 31: US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown showed a united front on Iraq and promoting West Asia peace today, trying to quell suggestions of a cooling in trans-Atlantic ties.

After a spate of reports that the new British leader would seek to distance himself from Bush and withdraw from Iraq, both men were keen to show at their first meeting they could strike up a strong bond.

Brown gave no promises on how long Britain would maintain its forces in Iraq, saying only that a decision to hand over control for security in Basra province to Iraqi forces would be based on military advice.

''There is no doubt in my mind that Gordon Brown understands that failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the security of our own countries,'' Bush said at a joint news conference after their meeting at the secluded presidential retreat.

He said his relationship with Brown would be ''a constructive strategic relationship for the good of our peoples.'' The two leaders' personal chemistry was noticeably cooler than that enjoyed by Bush and Brown's predecessor Tony Blair, who stepped down as prime minister last month.

In contrast with the casual approach of Blair and Bush, the president and the new British leader dressed formally in suits and ties and Brown looked stern, although Bush tried to lighten the atmosphere with frequent quips.

Brown said he had told Bush that Britain wanted to work with the United States on ''all the great challenges'' such as international terrorism, the West Asia and climate change.

On Iran, the two agreed on the need to pursue tougher sanctions against the country over its nuclear program.

''We're in agreement that sanctions are working and the next stage we are ready to move towards is to toughen the sanctions with a further UN resolution,'' Brown said.

Bush also said the two leaders were optimistic World Trade Organization members can reach a long-sought agreement in the Doha round of world trade talks, stalled since June.

''Gordon Brown brought some interesting suggestions on the way forward. He's optimistic that we can conclude the Doha round, as am I,'' Bush said.

Brown will meet Democratic and Republican congressional leaders in Washington today afternoon, his spokesman said.

On Tuesday, Brown will hold talks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York and give a speech at the world body.

Reuters>