The prime minister is to attend a summit with Gerhard Schroeder and Jacques Chirac on Saturday.

The talks with the leaders of the German and French governments will take place in Berlin, Number 10 announced yesterday.

Discussions are expected to focus on Iraq as well as other key European developments.

France has recently demanded a rapid transition to self-government in Baghdad.

But the US and Britain have resisted moves through the United Nations and remain committed to a transitional phase during which the coalition remains in control of the country.

The three-way summit is being seen as an attempt to break the deadlock between the permanent members of the United Nations security council.

The Sun says the prime minister is also set to use the summit to signal his determination to secure British membership of the single currency despite the Swedish "no" vote.