Blair's Russian mission fails as Putin questions UK 'propaganda'

Tony Blair's mission to win Russian support for an attack on Iraq failed yesterday when President Vladimir Putin cast doubt on whether Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction.

A downcast Prime Minister flew back from Moscow knowing he had a diplomatic mountain to climb to persuade UN Security Council members to issue an ultimatum for the Iraqis to comply with weapons inspections.

Mr Blair had appeared uncomfortable as President Putin delivered a scathing critique of "propagandistic" claims that President Saddam was illegally stockpiling deadly weapons. The rebuff for Mr Blair came on the same day that the Nobel peace prize was awarded to the former American president Jimmy Carter, who has warned of the "tragic error" of his country's moves towards war. In a rare swipe at a sitting US President, the Nobel committee said the award should be seen as a criticism of George Bush.

British diplomats took comfort from Mr Putin's first public declaration that he would be prepared to consider a fresh UN resolution on Iraq, although he said his preference was to secure the return of weapons inspectors to Baghdad without the threat of military action. At a brief joint news conference, he expressed scepticism at the immediate threat posed by President Saddam as set out in a recent Downing Street dossier. He said: "Any government would release some information to the mass media. That is certainly done to shore up their position. It could be seen as a propagandistic step."

He added: "Russia doesn't have in its possession any trustworthy data which would support the existence of nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. We haven't received from our partners any such information as yet."

Mr Putin cited in support this week's assessment to the US Congress by the CIA that President Saddam was unlikely to be preparing for chemical or biological strikes. But he added: "We do have apprehensions such weapons might exist in the territory of Iraq. That is precisely why we want to see to it that weapons inspectors travel there." Mr Blair admitted there could be "different perspectives" regarding the threat but added: "There is one certain way to find out, and that is to let the inspectors back."

A British official said: "There are still a lot of hard negotiations ahead to close the differences.'' The official said a quick agreement was unlikely and an EU summit at the end of this month would provide the next opportunity for Mr Blair to discuss the crisis in person with his overseas counterparts. The delays may try the patience of President Bush, who on Thursday secured the support of Congress for the use of military force against Iraq.

Mr Blair and Mr Putin, accompanied by their wives, held talks and a working dinner at the Russian leader's country retreat. Mr Putin said he was pleased Iraq had agreed to the readmission of weapons inspectors. "We see no need for any new United Nations security council resolution." In a hint of flexibility, he added: "We don't exclude the possibility of coming up with some co-ordinated decisions, including the possibility of a new resolution."

British officials said the comments showed Moscow was shifting position. One source said: "We believe we are moving forward in securing a fresh mandate for inspection." But, underlining the Russian position, a deputy foreign minister, Yuri Fedotov, said the draft American resolution on Iraq contained conditions that could not possibly be implemented.

Asked whether Russia had been offered help to cushion the impact on its economy of a war against Iraq, Mr Putin said the meeting should not be portrayed as "a bargaining place'' or as an "oriental bazaar''. He added: "The economic consequences are of importance both to us and of other states of the world, including the United Kingdom. We necessarily discussed this.''