France and Britain traded insults yesterday as relations deteriorated further.The French Foreign Minister, Mr Dominique de Villepin, pronounced himself "shocked and saddened" at seeing France berated and said such attacks were beneath a friend and European partner.
He telephoned the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, who had, along with the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, sharply criticised France in the House of Commons.
Arguing that Saddam Hussein only responded to threats, Mr Blair said: "And yet when that fact is so obvious that it is staring us in the face, we are told that any resolution that authorises force will be vetoed.
"Not just opposed. Vetoed! Blocked! The tragedy is that had such a resolution been issued, he might just have complied."
Mr Straw termed it "extraordinary" that President Chirac rejected last-minute British compromise proposals even before Saddam did.
"This presentation of facts does not conform to the reality and fools no-one," said the French foreign ministry.