State Department spokesman Richard Boucher confirmed that de Villepin called Powell from Amman, Jordan, during his visit to the Middle East and said the two men talked about a number of issues, including UN resolutions on Iraq.

The spokesman said France and the United States have had "strong disagreements lately," but are still allies and continue to work together on a daily basis on a number of issues.

"Understand that we did have these disagreements, understand that they were serious and difficult and that has consequences for the future," Boucher told reporters at a regular press briefing.

"There is obviously an effect on the relationship, on how we look at things, how we evaluate things and how we look at things we might want to do as we move forward," Boucher said without elaborating what measures Washington might take.

However, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said earlier in the day that one consequence France will face is the strained relations between Paris and Washington.

But France has defended its opposition to the Iraq war, despite a warning by the Bush administration and de Villepin said Wednesday France will continue to defend international law "in all circumstances."

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2003)