Blair and Chirac in bid to heal Iraq war wounds

Tony Blair will try to mend relations between Britain and France in talks with Jacques Chirac today.

The French President is in London for a two-day state visit to celebrate the centenary of the entente cordiale.

Relations between the two countries have been strained by divisions over the war in Iraq and the future of Europe.

But Downing Street insists it will not allow the rift over Iraq to overshadow the meeting.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the two leaders would also discuss Africa, the Middle East and the British presidency of G8 and European Union next year.

Meanwhile, the mutilated body of a Western woman found dumped in war-torn Fallujah is almost certainly that of kidnapped British aid worker Margaret Hassan, Australian Prime Minister John Howard told the Canberra parliament.

"The body found in Fallujah appears to have been Margaret's and the video of the execution of a western woman appears to have been genuine," Mr Howard said.

The body, clothed in what appeared to be a purple, velour dress, was wrapped in a blanket. Tests are under way to confirm that it is Mrs Hassan, 59, who held British, Irish and Iraqi citizenship.