Tony Blair's busy schedule of diplomatic talks included a meeting with Spain's prime minister on Monday evening.

Jose Maria Aznar met the prime minister in Downing Street after the conclusion of the day's Anglo-French summit.

Top of the agenda were the EU constitution and Iraq.

The meeting follows last week's state visit by US president George W Bush.

Aznar was a key ally in the Iraq war for the prime minister but officials were keen to stress that the event was simply business as usual.

"The two prime ministers meet regularly. They will want to discuss a range of world affairs," said Number 10 ahead of the meeting.

Before travelling to London Aznar warned that American success in Iraq was crucial to defeat terrorism.

"If Iraq does not turn out well there will be even more terrorism," he warned.

"Iraq is very important to the US, Europe and the western world. If we do not see a success we Europeans have much more to lose than the US."