British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W Bush plan to make an unprecedented joint appearance in Baghdad in a "desperate" bid to quell mounting anger over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.

They fear the scandal over the torture of captives by US and British troops is threatening to wreck the coalition mission and destabilise West Asia, the British Sunday Mirror tabloid reported.

The report, however, did not spell out the date when the two leaders would go. 

It said Bush and Blair, who are expected to travel to Iraq on separate planes escorted by British and US fighter jets, would try to reassure Iraqis that the West condemned the actions of the "rogue" troops and that those found guilty would be punished.