The prime minister has spoken to President Bush following his victory in the US presidential election.

Speaking to the media in Downing Street shortly after the president's victory speech, Tony Blair said the transatlantic alliance remained strong.

"It is an important part of our own British national interest that the British prime minister protect and strengthen the bond between our two countries," he said.

"I sought to do that first with President Clinton and then with President Bush and I look forward to continuing that strong relationship in President Bush's second term."

Concession

Blair's message of goodwill came after John Kerry called the White House to concede he had lost the presidential poll.

The prime minister spoke to the president by telephone and also put a call into the losing candidate.

Speaking after his conversation with Bush, the prime minister said he would work with the US to defeat terrorism.

"A world that is fractured, divided and uncertain must be brought together to fight this global terrorism in all its forms, and to recognise that it will not be defeated by military might alone but also by demonstrating the strength of our common values," said the Labour leader.

"We should work with President Bush on this agenda. It is one which all nations of goodwill can surely agree.

"In particular, Europe and America must build anew their alliance.

"All of us in positions of leadership, not just President Bush, have a responsibility to rise to this challenge. It is urgent that we do so."

Howard

Other political leaders from across the UK and Europe have sent their congratulations to the president.

Commenting on the Bush victory, Tory leader Michael Howard said: "I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to President George W Bush on his re-election victory.

"We look to the president to be a unifying force for those all over the world who share our determination to defend freedom. We look forward to working with the president."

Kennedy

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said increased voter participation in the poll might have lessons for Britain's politicians.

"I congratulate President Bush on the confirmation now of his re-election," he said.

"It is as well that this has proved to be a more clear-cut victory than before, as his first task obviously is to rebuild a sense of domestic purpose within the United States.

"Internationally, it is to be hoped that a second term will see a more sensitive approach to relations with long-standing allies, not least for the global efforts to combat terrorism.

"The upsurge in voter participation in this election shows that people can be galvanised when they know the issues are great. That point could prove to be highly significant next year at our own general election."

The party's foreign affairs spokesman, Sir Menzies Campbell, agreed the White House would have to act quickly to re-unite the country.

"President Bush's victory has been at the cost of a nation more deeply divided than it was even in the 1960s," he said.

"Europeans must hope that his administration will be much more multilateral in character, and that he will act swiftly to rebuild the Atlantic partnership which is so vital to security.

"Iraq will remain an issue of potential division for some time to come."

European view

European commission president Romano Prodi said: "My warm congratulations to President Bush on his re-election after a difficult ballot, whose outcome was far from sure.

"As the country's leader in the most dramatic time of its history, he has had to deal with the horrifying onslaught of terrorism."

French president Jacques Chirac added: "In the name of France and for my own personal part, I would like to express my heartiest congratulations for your re-election.

"It is in a spirit of dialogue, esteem and mutual respect that our co-operation must continue to evolve, our common fight against terrorism and the joint actions which we are engaged in to promote liberty and democracy must continue to develop."

Blair's position

During the campaign Blair refused to be drawn on who he would like to see win the closely contested poll.

Number 10 had previously said Blair believed the outcome was a matter for the "American people".

The two leaders have formed a close working relationship since Bush entered the White House four years ago.

The prime minister's decision to back Bush in a pre-emptive strike against Saddam Hussein locked the two leaders in a "coalition of the willing".

Many MPs believe Downing Street was privately hoping for a Bush victory.

A defeat for the president at such a crucial time in the Iraq conflict could have undermined Blair's attempt to move on from the war.

Big hit

Speaking on Tuesday Alastair Campbell conceded that Blair had taken a "big hit" as a result of his support for the US-led military action in Iraq.

The former Number 10 media chief went on to suggest, however, that Blair could have worked with a Kerry administration.

"It is his job, it is his duty, as the elected prime minister in Britain to make sure he develops a good relationship with Kerry," Campbell said.

"The reality is that if you are the British prime minister, you have got to get on and have a meaningful and strong relationship with the president of the United States, whoever that may be, whatever their politics may be."

Former foreign secretary Robin Cook said the result had denied Blair the chance to "draw a line under Iraq".

"If we are going to defeat international terrorism you need to build a broad coalition," he said.

"You can't do that if you take the approach George Bush has."

"The key will be whether he reappoints the very hardline neo-conservatives to his Cabinet," the Labour MP added.

"If they get back in we are probably in for a very bumpy four years."