The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, has opened his first official visit here by assuring President Clinton that Britain will stand beside the US if military action has to be taken against Iraq. But he also made clear that it is not yet time to give up on pressure for a diplomatic solution.
President Clinton has also been careful to insist that diplomatic moves have not yet been exhausted. He also distanced himself from calls by Republican members of Congress that any military action should target President Saddam Hussein. He said that a 20-year-old executive order forbidding political assassinations by the US was still in force.
At the welcoming ceremony at the White House, Mr Blair told the President that "we have stood together before in the face of tyranny. Today, in the face of Saddam Hussein, we must stand together once more."
Mr Blair added that "if it comes to force, then we have to be in a position to ensure that any use of force is carried out effectively."
But throughout yesterday both leaders continued to put the emphasis on their preference for a diplomatic solution which would result in the UN weapons inspectors being allowed to continue their work in Iraq.
Mr Clinton played down reports of Russian and French refusal to go along with military action against Iraq. He said that "to be fair, Russia and France have made strenuous efforts to get Saddam Hussein to comply and do something reasonable and consistent with the UN resolutions".
He had had "good conversations" with President Yeltsin and President Chirac and they were all going to continue seeking a diplomatic solution and "to build the strongest consensus we can".
In a series of TV interviews, Mr Blair continued his campaign of educating public opinion about the dangers of the chemical and biological weapons he says are held by Iraq. He said it was "important to emphasise to our people, to the American people, to the British people, that this threat from Saddam Hussein is a real threat."
Mr Blair also said that "diplomacy simply won't work without the threat of the use of force". He told CBS News: "It is important that we approach this with utter seriousness, and a huge sense of responsibility and complete determination to see this thing through."
Earlier, Mr Clinton asked Americans to support him with prayer as the country faces "a difficult decision" over Iraq. It was of concern to all Americans "that we do not expose our children - if we can help it - to the dangers of chemical and biological warfare."
The ceremonial welcome for Mr Blair on the South Lawn of the White House was marred by rain which forced him and the President to make their speeches indoors. But Mr Blair still got a 19gun salute, two fewer than for a visiting head of state. Last night the Clintons hosted a dinner at the White House for the Blairs. AFP adds from Washington: Iraq's offer to allow inspection of suspected weapons sites in exchange for a lifting of a UN embargo is inadequate, a State Department spokesman, Mr James Rubin, said yesterday.
"The most recent Iraqi position falls short of our standard of full and unfettered access," said Mr Rubin, specifying that his comments were in regard only to communications directly from Iraq.
He declined to comment on ideas sent through third parties, like France or Russia, but said that there would be "no negotiation" to achieve anything short of total and unconditional access.
Meanwhile, the Japanese foreign ministry said it plans to ask the US and Iraq to observe a UN-backed "Olympic truce" during the Nagano Winter Olympic Games which start tomorrow.
Baghdad has prevented UNSCOM, the UN commission charged with finding and destroying Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, gaining access to presidential sites and claims the UN inspectors' job has been completed.