World More Dangerous, Warns Chirac

The French president, Jacques Chirac, expressed fresh doubts about the invasion of Iraq on the eve of his visit today to Britain, saying it had left "the world more dangerous".

Mr Chirac's comment, in an interview broadcast last night, came only 48 hours after he undercut Tony Blair by suggesting the prime minister had failed to secure any concessions from George Bush in spite of supporting the war.

The French president will be in Britain for two days to mark the end of months of events marking the 100th anniversary of the entente cordiale, the alliance agreed after centuries of warfare.

After reviewing a guard of honour of British and French soldiers, he is to have talks with Mr Blair at Downing Street, make a speech on transatlantic relations to an audience of diplomats and defence specialists, and join the Queen in the evening at Windsor Castle.

The president, who on Monday described relations between the two countries as un amour violent (a stormy love affair), has the potential to make life awkward for Mr Blair at a joint press conference today if asked about Iraq or relations with Mr Bush.

A Downing Street official acknowledged this: "He may say things tomorrow that will be seen to be at variance. But there are clearly areas of variance."

The official said Downing Street had not been discomfited by any remarks made by Mr Chirac so far this week, insisting he had not said anything he had not said already many times to the French press. "Chirac is being totally consistent and we are totally relaxed about it," the official said. "People know Chirac has a different view from us. People do not need reminding of it. It is not in any sense problematic."

Questioned on Newsnight last night about whether the Iraq war had made the world safer, Mr Chirac said: "To a certain extent Saddam Hussein's departure was a positive thing but it also provoked reactions, such as the mobilisation in a number of countries, of men and women of Islam, which has made the world more dangerous. There is no doubt that there has been an increase in terrorism and one of the origins of that has been the situation in Iraq."

Nothing he said suggested a rapprochement with the US was imminent. Asked whether President Bush in a second term would continue to pursue an aggressive foreign policy, Mr Chirac said: "America has her own stance in this situation. The US president says he'll not change, which I understand perfectly. France has hers and she won't change either."

Mr Chirac said despite policy differences he and Mr Blair enjoyed a good personal relationship. Briefing British journalists on Monday he said: "When I go to London, I am very happy. I arrive and he gives me news of Leo, or Leo comes up and says 'bonjour monsieur Chirac' in French."

Tonight, the cast of Les Misérables will set up in Windsor Castle to perform for him in the Waterloo Chamber, which is to be referred to for one night only as the music room.