The firefighters' union is preparing to discuss whether to call fresh strikes in the New Year, following a deepening rift with the government.

The first of two more eight-day strikes is due to begin on Wednesday, but further walk-outs could be agreed.

The meeting of the Fire Brigades' Union executive follows leader Andy Gilchrist's denial that he wanted to topple the government.

At the same time ministers have released a report arguing the military coped well during the first two strikes, which the government says proves firefighters' working practices can be safely changed.

'Little disruption'

Fire Services Minister Nick Raynsford, launching the report, said the armed forces, police and part-time non-striking firefighters had been "magnificent".

The dispute is in very simple terms an issue about fire service pay

FBU leader Andy Gilchrist

He said the joint control centres with ambulance and police staff - one idea for reform which the FBU has refused to adopt - had worked well.

"Significantly, in many cases it proved not to be necessary to call out a fire appliance once the initial assessment was made," he said.

Fatalities and injuries were broadly in line with average figures, he said, thanks both to the emergency services and to the behaviour of the general public.

The fire service is an insurance policy

George, UK

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"In general, there was relatively little disruption as a result of the strike," he said.

He called on the FBU to prevent any further strikes, calling them "foolish and foolhardy".

Agenda warning

The union meeting is expected to sanction the next eight-day strike from Wednesday, followed by a further eight-day walk-out from 16 December to Christmas Eve.

On Saturday, Mr Gilchrist called for New Labour to be replaced with "Real Labour" and questioned why �1bn had been earmarked for war in Iraq.

The 15-page Cobra report assesses military performance

But speaking outside the FBU headquarters on Monday, he denied trying to "politicise" the strike.

"I think as a member of the Labour Party what seems entirely legitimate is for people to point out what they think the government is doing wrong.

"In terms of the dispute, the dispute is in very simple terms an issue about fire service pay.

"If there's been any politicising of the dispute I have to say it's started and been continued by the government."

He said the union was keen to resolve the issue through negotiation, and the executive was considering many ways of doing that.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott also accused Mr Gilchrist of politicising the fire dispute and having a "different agenda".

Long haul

"This dispute is about pay and conditions of the firefighters and the kind of modern fire service the country needs," Mr Prescott said in a statement on Sunday.

Also on Sunday, Mr Raynsford said the government was prepared for the deadlock to take "months".

This was echoed by Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram, who insisted the 19,000 troops would continue providing emergency cover for "as long as necessary".

A massive trade union rally is being planned in central London on Saturday 6 December in support of the firefighters.