French president Jacques Chirac

Europe's leaders have tried to put deep divisions over the rights and wrongs of the Iraq war to one side as military action gets underway.

European Union leaders meeting in Brussels chose to face the "new situation" by hoping that the second Gulf conflict would be short and casualties light.

After weeks of rows over military action, European member states attempted to heal the EU's wounds by looking forward to Baghdad's post-Saddam Hussein future.

"With the beginning of the military conflict, we are faced with a new situation," said a common statement.

"Our hope is that the conflict will end with the minimum loss of human life and suffering."

Bitter arguments between the UK and France have sidelined key constitutional and economic reform debates that were to have been the centrepiece of the continuing spring summit.

Amid a frosty atmosphere, European heads of state and government papered over the cracks by identifying "common challenges" facing the EU in the aftermath of an Iraq invasion - putting disputes over backing for the US-led military action on the backburner, for now.

"The disagreements which undoubtedly exist could not be eliminated today," said Greek prime minister and EU president Costas Simitis.

"We decided to move in a different direction - to take a different approach."

"We looked to the future and that is why...we managed to arrive at this text."

In tense discussions Britain held out against French demands for a statement coupling "full and effective disarmament of Iraq in all its territory" with "respect for the rights of the Iraqi people".

British officials also won a clause restating the EU's commitment to partnership rather than rivalry with the US.

"We remain convinced that we need to strengthen the transatlantic partnership, which remains a fundamental strategic priority for the European Union," said the leaders.

But Chirac risked confirming London claims that he had played political games with the UN with his flat refusal to include any reference to resolution 1441 in the statement.

The British prime minister and French president did manage a brief handshake but Anglo-French relations remain cold in a climate described by officials as "the worst ever".

Asked if the two leaders had exchanged any words - conciliatory or hostile - Blair's spokesman could only say: "The prime minister was in the presence of Mr Chirac."

Brussels fixers and diplomats have worked hard to move on from rifts over the UK and US's decision to go to war without a second UN resolution to a focus on the continuing international "multilateral" community's role in the Iraq crisis.

"We believe that the UN must continue to play a central role during and after the current crisis. The UN system has a unique capacity and practical experience in coordinating assistance in post-conflict states," the statement said.

"We will also intensify work for a comprehensive, coherent and effective multilateral policy of the international community to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction."

EU chiefs have pledged "to address the major humanitarian needs that will arise from the conflict" and for Europe to play its part in reconstructing a post-Saddam country - a call that the national leaders could unite around.

"We want to effectively contribute to the conditions allowing all Iraqis to live in freedom, dignity and prosperity under a representative government that will be at peace with its neighbours and an active member of the international community," said summit leaders.

Brussels chiefs have also sought to revive efforts to build a common EU foreign policy devastated by the Iraq crisis.

"We are determined to strengthen the capacity of the European Union in the context of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the European Single Defence Policy," said the summit statement.

"In this spirit, the restoration of the unity of the international community is an absolute imperative."