Jacques Chirac

Britain has attempted to talk down its row with France.

Jack Straw told journalists that he had spoken to his French counterpart, Dominique de Villepin, following the decision of President Chirac to veto the second UN resolution.

"It is obvious that there is a difference of opinion on this issue," said Straw.

"The problem for us is that we made a judgement that late last year or early this year, France had reached a decision to veto the second resolution.

"As far as we are concerned that was the mother and father of the problem."

Despite claims of a serious rift, the foreign secretary insisted that personal relations with his French counterpart were "very good".

The prime minister, who has attacked the French over their failure to back a second UN resolution, will attend an EU council dinner with president Chirac tonight.

Ahead of the dinner, where the issue of Iraq is firmly on the menu, Blair is expected to make plain his opposition to France's actions.

Downing Street has conceded there are "fundamental disagreements" between the two leaders over the issue of Iraq.

"There is no use pretending that there are not serious differences of view between us and the French government in respect of resolution 1441," said a spokesman for the prime minister.

Blair has this week stepped up his rhetoric against Paris in a bid to win Labour backing for his war plans.

Number 10 said the prime minister expected vigorous discussion between EU leaders around the dinner table.

But France has already made public its anger at the actions of the British government.

The French criticised Jack Straw for slamming its decision to veto any resolution which backed action against Saddam Hussein.

Following Tuesday's Commons debate, de Villepin telephoned Straw to stress his concerns.

He told the foreign secretary that the French authorities were "shocked and saddened" by what government ministers said during the 10-hour debate.

"We can well understand the internal pressure being exerted on the British government," said de Villepin.

"But the words used were not worthy of a country which is both a friend and a European partner.

"This presentation of the facts does not give a true picture of actual events and deceives no one."