The deputy prime minister has indicated his support for the prime minister's strategy on Iraq.

Making his position clear after US president George W Bush said he would involve the United Nations in setting a final deadline for Iraq to destroy its weapons of mass destruction, John Prescott has become the latest senior minister to back Tony Blair.

Last week Gordon Brown also said he was giving his full support to efforts to deal with the threat posed by Saddam Hussein.

And now the deputy PM's office has said he wants to make clear his support for the American and British position.

The Times reported on Saturday that Prescott had told senior colleagues that he is "100 per cent supportive".

With Prescott still popular among Labour's sceptical grassroots, his "friends" say he will use his influence to rally the party to the leadership's position.

The deputy prime minister is said to have been pleased that Blair helped persuade Bush to seek a UN mandate for action in Iraq.

His previous silence on the issue is reported to be because he has been on holiday, not because of any doubts about the proposed course of action.

Prescott wanted to make his views clear in advance of the recall of parliament on September 24, his office said.

"The deputy prime minister supports the prime minister as he would expect him to do so."