Tony Blair has insisted that there is no doubt that an interim Iraqi government would be able to veto major military operations.

Speaking in the Commons, the prime minister sought to play down reports of splits with the US administration.

"There is absolutely no doubt at all that the new Iraqi government has to have full sovereignty, the multi-national force remains by consent, the ultimate strategic and political decision-making passes to the Iraqi government after June 30," he said.

"Of course, once strategic decisions have been made the running of any operation is under the multi-national force and the commanders of that force, and there is no question...of UK troops not being able to protect themselves or their lives being put at risk or being under anything other than US and UK command."

Michael Howard told MPs he fully supported moved to ensure that the transfer of sovereignty is "real and not cosmetic".

The Conservative leader also warned that any announcement on the deployment of extra British troops to Iraq should not be made during the parliamentary recess, which begins at the end of this week.

Blair said any decision on troop deployments would depend on what is needed to secure the objective of "a stable and secure Iraq".

Prisons

Charles Kennedy informed MPs that Blair had written to him that morning to clarify the answer he had given him on control of Iraqi prisons the previous week.