This Friday's reports to the UN by the chief weapons inspectors will decide the next stage in the Iraq crisis, Downing Street has said.

Officials said that the next four days would be "frustrating" ahead of the security council meeting when Blix is set to give his verdict on Iraq's co-operation.

As the countdown to possible war continues, EU divisions over Iraq have escalated.

France, Germany and Belgium are demanding that weapons inspectors be given more time.

But Britain has warned that time is running out for the Iraqi regime.

The government has not confirmed whether the prime minister will attend an emergency meeting of European leaders planned for next Monday.

"We are still awaiting the full agenda but we do welcome this move and we will certainly be represented," said a British source.

Number 10 has also called on the media not to attempt to second-guess the next step in the crisis.

"We need to recognise that this is going to be a bit of a frustrating week for all of us," said the prime minister's official spokesman.

"We have to be patient and let them do their job. Let them come back to the UN and say whether 1441 is being adhered to.

"It is better to wait for that than to speculate about 'what ifs' that might not come to pass."

The warning came following media reports that Germany was considering a plan to bolster the number of inspectors in Iraq and give Blix more time.

Number 10 claimed no such plan existed.

Britain is siding with the US deputy secretary of state, Richard Armitage, who said the number of inspectors was irrelevant.

"It's not an issue of inspectors but co-operation. This is not a game of hide and seek. It has to be a game of Iraq actually complying," said Number 10.