Tony Blair has embarked upon a 48-hour visit to the Middle East today in a bid to bolster opinion behind the US-led air strikes on Afghanistan. Blair is set to use the opportunity, which will see him visiting three Arab nations, to stress that this is a war against terror, not Islam.

Downing Street yesterday criticised the journalist Kate Adie who broke an embargo in broadcasting news of the prime minister's visit. Number 10 sources, who formally reprimanded the BBC, said the security breach could have called the prime minister's safety into question.