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Talks between pro- and anti-whaling countries on how to resolve their differences have ended with agreement to look for dialogue and common ground.

Japan pledged not to seek commercial whaling quotas in the immediate future, and offered to discuss its current scientific hunt in the Antarctic.

Some delegates talked of an eventual "package deal" between the factions.

Delegates spent three days in talks near Heathrow Airport called by the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

"I'm detecting a willingness for governments at least to talk," said Sue Lieberman, director of the global species programme at the environmental group WWF.

No-one's going to change anyone's mind; Japan isn't going to suddenly say 'I'm sorry about whaling,' nor are the anti-whaling countries going to say 'we're sorry, we're wrong, we think whaling is great.'

"But we're seeing a willingness of governments to say 'just a minute - can we work this out?'"

In part, the minds of anti-whaling commissioners have been concentrated by Japan's threat to leave the IWC, a situation that would essentially leave its whaling unregulated.

The IWC also agreed a statement condemning "dangerous" actions taken by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society as it tries to halt Japan's Antarctic hunt...