Mr Tony Blair's diplomatic mission was continuing in Saudi Arabia last night after colliding with "fundamental differences of perspective" in Syria over the continuing crisis in the Middle East.
Downing Street denied Mr Blair had been embarrassed after a difficult press conference during which Syria's President Bashar al-Assad condemned the Western bombing of Afghanistan and Israeli "terrorism" and drew a distinction between international terror and the "resistance" activities of organisations such as Hamas and Hizbullah.
Reaffirming his desire for "a proper and lasting peace" in the Middle East, Mr Blair himself acknowledged "there are going to be differences" about the approach to the Middle East peace process and action to be taken in Afghanistan, while insisting peaceful solutions demanded an end to terrorism "wherever it exists". Having gambled on this first visit to Syria by a British prime minister, there was relief in Mr Blair's camp at President Assad's renewed condemnation of the September 11th attacks on Washington and New York, apparent acceptance that a Middle East settlement would have to provide secure Israeli borders, and his commitment to continuing dialogue.
However the Prime Minister's latest attempt to bolster support for the international coalition was playing to some damaging headlines on the home front, as the Conservatives suggested his government had "appeared to be losing the battle for the hearts and minds of the British people."
The Tory leader, Mr Iain Duncan Smith, suggested the Prime Minister would have to make a better job of explaining his war aims if he was to prevent another "wobble" in British support.
At the same time Mr Duncan Smith warned that "a major effort" might be required by troops on the ground in Afghanistan. And he called on ministers to close the apparent gap between political and military expectations by themselves making statements about war aims and objectives which should then be supported by military spokesmen.