Bush on war footing

George Bush has set the stage for one of the most bitter and fiercely contested elections in US history, pledging to "build a safer world and a more hopeful America".

A Vietnam veteran who was awarded the Silver Star for bravery, Mr Kerry is known to be furious over attacks from Republicans questioning both his patriotism and his credentials to become America's commander-in-chief.

He hit back both at Mr Bush, who served in the reserves as a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard, and Vice President Dick Cheney, who put off his military service five times. "I'm not going to have my commitment to defend this country questioned by those who refused service when they could have and by those who have misled the nation into Iraq," Mr Kerry snapped.

In contrast Mr Bush mentioned Senator Kerry by name just once in his speech accepting the Republican nomination, restricting criticism to a few barbs about his inconsistency on defence and tax policies.

Instead the President set out his vision of the next four years, pushing the official Republican theme that focuses heavily on security after the September 11 attacks.

He also made a strong defence of his decision to overthrow Saddam Hussein, while avoiding any reference to weapons of mass destruction - once given as the main justification for war.

Calling Saddam "a threat", he claimed the war was caused by the Iraqi leader's refusal to give in to UN demands to disarm. "Do I forget the lessons of September 11 and take the word of a madman or do I take action to defend our country?" he asked. "Faced with that choice I will defend America every time."

One of the loudest cheers of the one-hour speech came when Mr Bush singled out Tony Blair from a list of world leaders who have supported the US over Iraq and Afghanistan.

But the President was forced to pause twice when demonstrators were hustled away by security guards.

Opinion polls show Mr Bush holding a one per cent lead over the Democrats. Meanwhile, the row that erupted between the Tories and the White House was swiftly buried when party chairman Liam Fox was given pride of place in the audience, sitting alongside the President's chief adviser, Karl Rove.

It came less than a week after it emerged that Mr Rove had personally warned Tory leader Michael Howard he was not welcome in Washington because of his attacks on Tony Blair over Iraq.