An 'amiable chat' sets up January date for Anglo-French summit

An Anglo-French summit, postponed after a row between Tony Blair and the French President, Jacques Chirac, is likely to take place in January, after the two men held an "amiable chat" yesterday at the Nato summit in Prague.

In a concerted effort to mend fences, both sides played down reports of their exchange at a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels last month, and stressed that yesterday's contact was cordial.

In Brussels, the two men clashed over reform of the EU's common agricultural policy and, yesterday, British officials did not deny fresh claims that the French President had challenged Mr Blair over Iraq. M. Chirac was reported to have referred to Mr Blair's youngest son, saying: "How would you look Leo in the eye in 20 years' time if you are the leader who helped start a war?"

British officials did not deny the account, but called the report "over-written".

Mr Blair's spokesman said: "There is a lot of, frankly, hype around Anglo-French relations. It's no secret we have differences over some issues but equally, there should be no secret there are vast areas where we agree."

French officials say the annual meeting of ministers will probably take place in January.

The meeting was to take place in Le Touquet next month but was abruptly cancelled by M. Chirac.

One French source added: "There were things that had to be said at Brussels and they were but that is now finished."

As well as yesterday's lunch discussion, the two leaders spoke at a dinner in Prague on Wednesday night, although there was no formal bilateral meeting.