By Nick Assinder BBC News Online political correspondent travelling with the prime minister

Tony Blair has flown to his meeting with George Bush warning Britain would inevitably be drawn into any conflict sparked by Saddam Hussein.

He said he believed he could win around international opinion to back action against Iraq.

And he repeated his previous statement that taking no action was "not an option".

The prime minister, who will use the summit with the president to kick off a campaign to forge an international coalition against Saddam, made it clear that action against Iraq was highly likely.

But he stressed to journalists travelling with him, that his meeting with the president was exploratory and no decisions on what action should be taken.

Blair spoke in depth to journalists on board

"What I want to do today is work out the best possible way of ensuring that the issue of weapons of mass destruction, the chemical, biological or potential nuclear capability of Saddam is dealt with effectively," he said.

Mr Blair said he believed his counterparts in the United Nations Permanent Five Security Council members agreed with him that Saddam was a threat.

"There's no doubt this issue has to be dealt with," he said.

"The only decision that's been taken at this stage is that inaction is not an option.

"This is something that's come to the point of decision now because we know sanctions alone won't contain this problem, we know he's carrying on trying to develop these weapons."

Coalition

He said he wanted the "broadest possible coalition" for any action.

Mr Blair seemed sceptical that the return to Iraq of UN weapons inspectors by itself could resolve the growing crisis, and again repeated his hints that a specific UN resolution authorising military action might not be needed.

On the inspectors, he said: "I have to point out that we have got to see this in the light of experience.

"Why did the inspectors go? It was because the inspectors found they couldn't do their work.

"Whatever weapons inspection regime is put in has to be one that's very effective."

Threat to UK

He argued that Saddam posed a real threat to the security of the UK.

"The point I would emphasise to you is the threat is very real and it is a threat not just to America or the international community but to Britain.

"If these weapons are developed and used there is no way that any conflict Saddam initiated using these weapons would not have direct implications for the interests of Britain."

The Prime Minister gave no hint about when Britain would publish its dossier on Saddam but promised it would go "into this in some detail".