Blair faces new split with Bush

Celebrations in London and Washington over the capture of Saddam Hussein today gave way to hard political thinking - and a potential split between Tony Blair and George Bush.

The Prime Minister's envoy in Iraq, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, warned that Britain would have no part in any trial which could lead to the death penalty.

The US is expected to demand just such a process, with backing already emerging from the Australian premier and other hard-liners.

Mr Blair and President Bush were expected to discuss in detail how, when and where the former dictator should be brought to trial.

Meanwhile, the danger of a continued campaign of insurgency in Iraq, which has already killed more than 330 US and British troops since the end of the war, was highlighted by more explosions and deaths near Baghdad.

The capture of Saddam provided London and Washington with a source who should be able to say where weapons of mass destruction might be concealed.

But US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Saddam, though co-operating with his captors in medical and forensic checks, was otherwise not talking.

Mr Rumsfeld said it was too early to say where and when a trial would be held, but Mr Bush vowed that one way or another Saddam would face "the justice he denied to millions".

The capture brought congratulations from across the world - including countries which had opposed the war.

The gritted teeth were evident in France, where there were no words directly from Jacques Chirac. His spokeswoman said: "The President is delighted at the arrest."