The Prime Minister, Mr Blair, sought to end confusion last night by saying Britain was ready "in principle" to play a leading role in a UN-mandated stabilisation force for Afghanistan. "But no formal decisions have been taken yet; there are an immense amount of details to be decided and discussions to be had."
Mr Blair was speaking at a press conference after talks with the US Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, following their attendance at a Downing Street ceremony in remembrance of those who had died just three months before.
Earlier in the day, Mr Powell appeared to take Downing Street by surprise when, speaking in Paris, he declared himself "pleased the United Kingdom is willing to step forward and volunteer for a leadership role". Number 10's immediate response was to stress British forces would not be used in a "unilateralist" manner.
Seeming to confirm Mr Powell was ahead-of-the-game - and reflecting the sensitivities surrounding the composition of any stabilisation force - a spokesman for the prime minister said: "We are very pleased Colin Powell has such a high opinion of our contribution that he wants us to do more. We welcome that. Equally, it would be totally wrong for us to be unilateralist."
The spokesman continued: "We have to co-ordinate our efforts with the UN, with Afghanistan, and with our other allies." That prompted a Conservative demand for a clear government statement "to dispel confusion surrounding any role British troops may play in a peacekeeping force".
Questions continued, too, about Britain's attitude to any second-phase in the campaign against international terrorism following a warning from the Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Michael Boyce, that Britain should be wary of following "the US's single-minded determination" to wage war on a broad front.
Speaking alongside Mr Powell, Mr Blair said: "We have concentrated on achieving our objectives in Afghanistan. The battle against terrorism doesn't end there."
