Labour unease on Israel and Iraq

Labour MPs will unleash their anger against Tony Blair's Iraq and Middle East policies today as the Americans revealed that spiralling violence within the country underlines the need for US troops to stay in Iraq until late next year.

On his first day back from the Easter break, the Prime Minister was expected to make a statement to Parliament on his visit to Washington at the weekend. But he faces a backlash from his own party over George Bush's support for an Israeli pullout from the occupied territories.

His difficulties were highlighted when the new Spanish prime minister announced he will withdraw his troops from Iraq within the next month. José Œuis Rodriguez Zapatero made clear that he did not believe British and American claims about an enhanced role for the UN in Iraq.

Mr Blair is set to warn MPs that British forces should expect more attacks ahead of the planned handover date of 30 June, but will be told by backbenchers they feel betrayed in voting for the war.

Many wavering MPs were persuaded to back it in a key Commons vote last year only after Mr Blair assured them President Bush would back a new "road map" for Middle East peace.

In Iraq, US military leaders today warned Syria not to allow foreign insurgents to cross its border into the country to feed the uprisings dogging coalition troops.