Blair, who arrived in Moscow in mid-afternoon on a brief working visit, said the plan might include a reconstruction of the country in the first phase, imposition of an interim administration in the second phase, and adoption of a new constitution as well as establishment of a full-fledged government in the final phase, Itar-Tass news agency reported.

Regarding the three-stage version of Iraqi settlement as an acceptable and "good basis for further discussion and bridging of positions," Putin stressed that UN role must be guaranteed at all stages and the transfer of power to the Iraqi people must not be delayed.

A settlement without UN participation "is unlikely to prove effective, fair or lasting," Putin told a press conference after the two-hour meeting with Blair.

He also insisted on implementing the oil-for-food program under strict UN control amid the current anarchy in Iraq.

The Russian leader pointed out that the Hussein regime was mishandling the program, but since "the regime no longer exists and there is no one to misappropriate the benefits of this program, control must be exercised by an international organization."

Worried by the fact that neither weapons of mass destruction nor Saddam Hussein has been discovered in Iraq, Putin proposed sending UN inspectors to Iraq for "independent inspections ", according to Interfax report.

Other formats for international presence to maintain peace and stability in Iraq with due account of the experience gained in Afghanistan are also considerable, he noted.

He reiterated that proposals to write off Iraqi debts must be considered only on a multilateral basis within the Paris Club.

The two also exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula crisis. Russia advocates a nuclear-free status for the region, said Putin, calling for negotiations with full consideration of the views of all parties involved so that the issue could be resolved effectively and painlessly.

While Blair expressed concern about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s alleged possession of nuclear weapons and spoke in favor of resolving this problem collectively.

It is the first meeting between Putin and Blair since the US-British coalition launched its military attack on Baghdad on March20 despite its failure to obtain authorization from the UN Security Council, and also a thirteenth meeting of the Russian and British leaders since 2000.

"Despite different approaches to the Iraqi settlement, we realize that we should solve many problems together," Putin expressed his satisfaction with the results of the negotiation, hoping that the constructive interaction between Russia and Britain will be developed into concrete deeds.

Blair confirmed at the press conference that Putin's state visit to Britain would take place on June 24-27, which will be the first since 1874.

The lightning visit at Blair's initiative is expected to help to mend tense relations between Moscow and London after the war in Iraq.

Russia and Britain, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, have been at odds over the US-led war. Though opposing the US-led war in Iraq, Russia does not want to be left out of the country's postwar reconstruction.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2003)