Battle to repair rift with US

A major effort was under way today to repair relations between Britain and the US over the future of the Middle East in the wake of the most serious and damaging public rift yet between George Bush and Tony Blair.

As the G8 summit of world leaders entered its second and final day there was still little sign of common ground between them over Mr Bush's controversial call for the removal of Yasser Arafat as Palestinian leader.

However, at the same time, there was a realisation among those close to both men that a highly publicised spat could have big repercussions for the war against terrorism. Mr Bush's demand for the removal of Mr Arafat has seen him isolated among world leaders. Mr Blair repeated the formula that it was up to the Palestinians to choose their leader in elections scheduled for next month which will see no credible challenger to Mr Arafat.

At the same time, however, Downing Street aides admitted there was a need to drag London and Washington closer together before the next major meeting in September.

Mr Blair spoke of the need to put his differences with Mr Bush "in perspective" and stressed Britain and the US still had much in common over the future of Mr Arafat and the Middle East.

He said: "When the Palestinians have elections it's up to them who they elect. We're simply saying that for us to make progress we have got to have a leadership with whom we can negotiate seriously. We have learned enough to know that we need change in order to get that serious negotiation going."

? All British Airways planes will be fitted with reinforced cockpit doors in a package of measures agreed by G8 leaders to combat terrorist outrages.