The prime minister has moved to allay US fears over the new international criminal court.

Dismissing suggestions of a serious rift between London and Washington, Tony Blaid said relations were "solid".

In a Commons statement on the G8 summit, Blair announced an Africa action plan, involving an increase in funding from the UK of £650 million to £1 billion by 2006.

Speaking in response to Blair's statement, Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith criticised the government for failing to call for fresh elections in Zimbabwe.

"If with all the might at their disposal, the G8 cannot even bring themselves to demand change in Zimbabwe, what hope is there for the rest of Africa?" he asked.

Blair dismissed the comment, claiming that Zimbabwe would not benefit from the aid package while President Mugabe was in power.