SEA ISLAND, June 9: The United States and France clashed again over Iraq on Wednesday, their new harmony on post-war strategy dissolving over the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's role, just a day after they reached detente on a new UN resolution.

The new spat ignited after President George Bush, bolstered by the United Nations Security Council green light for his bid to remake Iraq, went on the offensive, calling at the Group of Eight summit for a greater NATO role in the country.

"We will work with our NATO friends to at least continue the role that now exists and hopefully expand it somewhat," Mr Bush told reporters after huddling for breakfast with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

But French President Jacques Chirac, who led world opposition to the US invasion of Iraq last year, put up an immediate roadblock. "I do not think that it is NATO's job to intervene in Iraq," Mr Chirac told reporters. -AFP