Same pose, different views: Aznar (l) and Chirac disagree on Iraq

Talks between the two men failed to bring their positions any closer.

In the French parliament, meanwhile, Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin confirmed that France would not vote in favour of the second United Nations resolution - although he still stopped short of threatening a veto.

President Jacques Chirac, speaking after talks with Spain's Jose-Maria Aznar, reiterated the French view that the second resolution was unnecessary.

We think there is no reason that justifies going beyond Resolution 1441 Jacques Chirac French President

"We think there is no reason that justifies going beyond Resolution 1441 and so we are opposed to any new resolution," Mr Chirac told reporters.

"France thinks that there is a possibility of achieving (disarmament) through peaceful means, through inspections, and as a result, war is not inevitable."

But Mr Aznar said a new resolution would be "timely in two respects: to guarantee the central role played by the Security Council and to put maximum pressure on the Iraqi regime".

We have made the greatest effort to reach a consensus and we will continue to do so Jose Maria Aznar Spanish Prime Minister

Spain would do everything possible to ensure agreement on the Security Council, he said.

"We have made the greatest effort to reach a consensus and we will continue to do so based on the central role of the Security Council, based on the need to act in the framework of the greatest possible unity to solve this crisis," Mr Aznar said.

France, Germany and Russia have submitted an alternative proposal allowing weapons inspectors more time.

A military intervention today, when all the chances for a peaceful solution have not been explored, would divide the international community Jean-Pierre Raffarin French Prime Minister

Germany's Gerhard Schroeder was travelling to Moscow on Wednesday for talks with President Vladimir Putin.

"Both of them believe that their position is highly reasonable and promising and that a peaceful solution is possible by reinforcing the work of the inspectors in disarming Iraq," said German Government spokesman Thomas Steg.

In the French parliament, Mr Raffarin received warm applause for an impassioned speech warning against early war.

"A military intervention today, when all the chances for a peaceful solution have not been explored, would divide the international community," Mr Raffarin said.

"Let us make no mistake, it would be perceived as precipitous and illegitimate."

He also stressed that inspections had not been exhausted.

"In the current circumstances, a second resolution in the U.N. Security Council has no justification. That is the reason why we will not support this initiative," he said.

War would "cause a wave of incomprehension and suspicion," Raffarin said. "War would weaken the international coalition against terrorism."

Deep divide

Europe has been divided in two over the best way to handle the Iraq crisis.

CONFLICT WITH IRAQ Who stands where in Europe At-A-Glance

France, Germany and Russia have led calls for diplomacy to continue.

The UK, Spain and Italy have backed American assertions that time is running out.

The European Union leaders managed to unite around a common statement at an emergency summit in Brussels.

They declared that war was a last resort and that weapons inspectors should have as much time as the UN Security Council deemed necessary.

European public opinion is strongly against war, especially without a second UN resolution.