US, France mend fences

The United States is looking past differences with Europe over the Iraq war and expects a "rebirth of energy" in transatlantic ties, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.

Rice's comments in Paris appeared designed to turn the page from the chill in relations between the US and several European countries that opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Her French counterpart, Michel Barnier, also said "it's time for a fresh start" between the two allies but added that they must "listen to each other more".

America's top diplomat said: "The good news is that while France and the US have disagreed from time to time, the US and France have continued to co-operate on a wide, wide range of efforts."