Liberal Democrats arrived in Bournemouth this weekend for an annual conference which will be dominated by the fall-out from events in the US.

With US reprisals against Afghanistan now imminent, the Lib Dems vowed they would go ahead the conference in Bournemouth though the list of events will be radically revised.

On Monday, party leader Charles Kennedy will lead a debate on the terrorist attacks in America and many of the minor motions for debate will be dropped. Party insiders also accept that if military action begins during the conference it could be closed early.

The conference comes at a crucial time for the Lib Dems - following the party's gains at the general election. As a sign of their renewed conference, Lib Dems have broken-off links with Labour and are seeking to become the party of "real opposition".

Whilst the party political nature of this week will be muted, Lib Dems will still want to show that they present a radical alternative to both Labour and the Tories.

However, events in the US are expected to dominate proceedings. Baroness Barker, conference committee chairman, said amendments to the agenda would be made to reflect the fast changing international situation.

"Openness and debate are the bedrock of democracy, and now more than ever we need this to continue. In the light of events we need to assess what has happened, take stock, and to start work on all the many implications," she said.

"Over the coming months our representatives and politicians are going to have to take some difficult decisions. Now is the time, for politicians to be in touch with what people are thinking and feeling, more than ever before, and for them to take the lead to guide them through this uncertain time," Barker said.

The announcement came as speculation mounted that all three party conferences could be scrapped because of the threat of military conflict in the middle east.

Home secretary David Blunkett is said to be weighing up the options before making a final decision on whether to give the green light to the party's conference in Brighton - which is set to begin in just over a week.