March 22, 2003	Saturday	Muharram 18, 1424

BRUSSELS, March 21: British Prime Minister Tony Blair was absent on Friday from the “family photo” of EU leaders and candidate states, having left an EU summit earlier due to the war on Iraq.

French President Jacques Chirac was seen in animated conversation with various leaders at the photo-shoot, which traditionally gathers the heads of state and government after such summits.

Chirac and Blair, fiercely opposed on Iraq, earlier met each other for 10 minutes on the sidelines of the summit in what was called a “lively but polite” conversation by aides.

The Iraq crisis has sparked unprecedented rifts in the EU. At least five EU members, notably Britain and Spain, have backed the US plans for war while others, led by France and Germany, have stood in outspoken opposition.

Blair left the summit after holding a press conference a couple of hours before the end of the gathering.—AFP