Less than a week after the creation of the Iraqi government, US President George W. Bush and Tony Blair, the British prime minister, meet on Thursday night in Washington to discuss the timing of troop withdrawals in an effort to address growing domestic unease about the war.

Although US and British officials stress they will pursue a conditions-based approach to withdrawal and shun artificial timetables, on Tuesday Mr Bush gave his clearest signal that he sees the new government as a critical turning point. “This is a new chapter in our relationship,” he said.