Iraq row threat as Blair visits Spain

Tony Blair flies to Spain tonight amid the threat of a damaging confrontation over Iraq and the war against terrorism.

He faces difficult talks with new premier José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, elected on a platform of strong opposition to the Iraq invasion. Mr Blair will hold talks with Mr Zapatero tomorrow before a memorial service for victims of the train bombings.

Publicly, the two premiers are expected to exchange warm words as fellow leaders of the European centre Left. But behind the scenes Mr Blair will be hoping to persuade Mr Zapatero to think again about his threat to pull troops out of Iraq.

There is also concern in Downing Street that Mr Zapatero's victory has deprived Britain of a key ally in the wrangle over a new constitution for Europe. Mr Blair will have dinner tonight with outgoing premier José Maria Aznar, with whom he had formed a staunch partnership and which had seen a deal delayed until objections from Britain and Spain were met.

The new Spanish premier has pledged to build "splendid" relations with France and Germany, a strategy which could, once again, see Britain out on a limb. Mr Blair, after a brief stopover in Lisbon, is due in Brussels on Thursday for a full-scale EU summit, with suggestions that the new constitution could be signed, sealed and delivered in weeks.

President Jacques Chirac this week predicted a deal could be sewn up by the EU summit in June.

The Tories and other critics in Britain were ready to mount a renewed offensive, warning that a deal would hand control to Brussels on key issues of foreign policy, the economy and jobs, and demand, yet again, a national referendum.

There were also reports today that Mr Blair's four-day journey would include a visit to Libya.