The prime minister is bracing himself for more bad news with the continuing row over the Iraq dossier.

Tony Blair will be waiting to see if any further claims surface over the weekend as to who named the BBC's Iraq dossier source and whether it was officially sanctioned.

He returned early from Hong Kong to a raft of bad headlines, poor opinion polls and predictions that key members of his government will have to quit.

In a bid to end some of the fevered speculation, Downing Street urged the media to await the results from the inquiry being held by Lord Hutton into the death of government scientist Dr David Kelly.

"The prime minister has said that there will be an inquiry into recent events and he has asked for a period of reflection. We would urge people to heed that call," said a Number 10 spokesman.

Blair will spend the weekend in his Sedgefield constituency before holding a press conference there on Monday.

Reporters are likely to ask a series of tough questions which the prime minister may find difficult to field without prejudicing the Hutton inquiry.

He has already denied any personal involvement in the naming of Dr Kelly, putting the spotlight firmly on his communications director Alastair Campbell and defence secretary Geoff Hoon.