The prime minister was yesterday fighting to avoid Iraq becoming the central issue in next month's local and European elections.

In the Commons Tony Blair admitted that the row over prisoner abuse had been "immensely damaging".

Michael Howard sought to turn up the heat, accusing the prime minister of losing his grip on post-conflict Iraq.

One Downing Street aide told the Times: "Nobody believes this can go on much longer. Either we must put some distance in our relationship with Bush or Tony has to deliver a demonstrable achievement in shifting American policy. He cannot do both."

The Guardian says that some supporters of Gordon Brown have grown ever more vocal recently.

"It's causing a backlash. People are going to Gordon and saying 'if you harm Tony we won't support you'," one senior party figure said last night. "It's got worse since last year."

Whilst the Tories continue to support the war, they are seeking to distance themselves from the events since the end of the conflict.

Charles Kennedy, meanwhile, has signalled that the Liberal Democrats will oppose any US calls for more British troops in Iraq.

Today the government is expected to announce, however, that photographs of alleged abuse published by the Daily Mirror are fake.

The announcement will come from armed forces minister Adam Ingram during a defence debate.

The moves comes as a new UN split opens over the future governance of Iraq.

France and Russia are pressing for a resolution which gives Iraqis real control over their political future.

But the US, which is sticking to its June handover date, wants to retain control of local troops. 

Meanwhile, Iraq's new leaders are to demand that the US surrenders control over all prisons and detainees in the country when the interim government takes office in six weeks.