European Union leaders have sought to present a united front over how to deal with Iraq by issuing a joint statement saying force should only be used as a "last resort". But underlying differences threatened to resurface on Tuesday as EU candidate nations prepared to meet after coming under a stinging attack from French President Jacques Chirac for supporting America's stance. The countries, mainly former Soviet-bloc states, will be briefed on the EU's emergency summit, at which leaders agreed on a compromise declaration warning Iraq had a "final opportunity" to resolve the crisis peacefully. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2773877.stm