Britain's Tony Blair sought on Wednesday to quash talk of a split with the United States over Iraq, saying foreign troops' operations should stay under US command once an interim local government takes over.
But with another eye on Iraqi and world opinion - anxious for an end to the year-old US-led occupation - Blair stressed the Baghdad government due to assume power after June 30 would have "full sovereignty" including over military strategy.
On Tuesday, Blair surprised Washington by saying Iraqis would have a veto over operations like the recent attacks on Falluja, prompting US Secretary of State Colin Powell to fire back that American forces would stay under US charge.
As media and opposition politicians pounced on the apparently first open signs of division between London and Washington since the Iraq war, Blair insisted on Wednesday he was still in line with his ally President George W. Bush.
"We are both absolutely agreed there should be full sovereignty transferred to the Iraqi people and that the multinational force should remain under American command," he told parliament.
"The ultimate strategic and political decision-making passes to the Iraqi government after the 30th of June...Once strategic decisions have been made, the running of any operations is under the military forces and the commanders of those forces."
There was "no question" of US or British troops being under anything other than their own national command, he added.
Clearly stung by a media storm in Britain, Blair sent Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott onto the airwaves earlier to label talk of an Anglo-American split "complete rubbish."
TABOO ISSUE: Prescott said the British and US statements boiled down to two non-conflicting points: Iraqis having general political control over foreign troops, except when those troops were attacked.
"Under circumstances which can occur where a terrorist attack takes place and attacks a military force, whether it's the Americans or the British, clearly they will be expected to defend themselves. Nobody doubts that," he said.
The British line, however, still appeared to fall somewhat short of Washington's broader interpretation.
Powell said on Tuesday the United States "would take into account" the Iraqis' view at political and military level.
"Ultimately, however, if it comes down to the United States armed forces protecting themselves or in some way accomplishing their mission in a way that might not be in total consonance with what the Iraqi interim government might want to do at a particular moment in time, US forces remain under US command and will do what is necessary to protect themselves," he said.
The charged issue of control over troops is crucial to convincing Iraqis - and sceptical powers like France and Russia - that London and Washington are serious about handing back sovereignty to Iraq. It also touches an American taboo over foreign control of its troops.
A draft UN resolution presented by Washington and London to endorse the interim Iraqi government would allow US-led forces to "take all measures" to keep order and does not contain a specific Iraqi veto clause. But British officials say such an effective veto would be included in an exchange of letters with the interim government and agreed before a UN vote.
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