London and Washington are trying to patch up differences over Britain's role in any military action against Iraq. The UK has sought to dispel speculation that US troops might go to war with Iraq without British involvement. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld sparked confusion on Tuesday by saying that American forces were prepared to act without British support.

As intensive diplomacy continues around the world ahead of a UN Security Council vote on a new resolution on Iraq, the UK has set out six new tests for Iraqi disarmament.

Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien detailed four of the tests, including demands for Saddam Hussein to appear on Iraqi television and say that he has hidden weapons of mass destruction in the past.

Mr O'Brien also said Britain hoped for a vote on the new resolution at the UN on Thursday.

Speaking ahead of talks in Paris, Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio - who is co-sponsoring the new resolution - said Spain was open to changes to the text.

Ms Palacio is holding talks with her French counterpart, Dominique de Villepin, whose country has threatened to veto any resolution authorising war against Iraq.

Another staunch opponent of military action, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, is due to meet the UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in London later on Wednesday.

The crisis over Iraq is also being debated in the European Parliament, and by Spanish and Russian MPs.

Rising Tension

Seeking to downplay Mr Rumsfeld's suggestions, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: "We are still working to get a second resolution. We are not at this stage [war] yet."

UK diplomats at the UN have proposed a series of tests they say Baghdad should fulfil within a set time to prove that it is ready to hand over its weapons.

The proposals are part of an attempt to win wider support for a new UN resolution that gives the Iraqi leader a deadline to disarm before war.

But the Security Council remains divided over the vote on a new resolution.

Washington is pushing for the vote to be held this week, with White House spokesman Ari Fleischer saying the American people "increasingly impatient" with the UN.

Two permanent Council members - France and Russia - have threatened to use their veto if the new text is put to the vote.

And the BBC's Justin Webb says that, with the declaration of war perhaps only days away, tensions between Washington and London are also beginning to show.

In other developments:

* In Turkey, police clash with protesters opposed to the possible use of Turkish bases by American troops
* The UN orders its international staff out of the Kurdish-held area of northern Iraq - evacuation is expected to take place on Thursday
* The EU warns it might be unwilling to fund reconstruction of Iraq is the US goes to war without UN backing
* The US tests a 21,000 pound (9,500 kilogram) bomb - known as the Moab: Massive Ordnance Air Burst or, unofficially, the Mother Of All Bombs - which may be used in any conflict with Iraq.
* Baghdad says a drone - which the US claims could be used to deliver chemical and biological agents - is only a prototype and flew only three kilometres on its test flight

'Significant Contribution'

The UK Government is under increasing pressure from members of the ruling Labour Party over its tough stance on Iraq.

Following Mr Rumsfeld's remarks, many Labour members are expected to call on Mr Blair's government to withdraw British military involvement.

After the UK Government questioned the comments, Mr Rumsfeld issued a statement saying he believed London would make a significant contribution.

However the statement did not say UK troops would actually fight.

British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told the BBC on Wednesday that Mr Rumsfeld had been referring to a "theoretical possibility" that British troops might not be involved.

"He has every reason to believe there will be a significant military contribution from the UK," he added.

PHOTO CAPTION

It is now unclear whether British troops will go into action