|
Blair braced for Iraq revolt
Tony Blair is set to face one of his toughest tests of his premiership on Wednesday when MPs debate a motion on the government's stance on Iraq. Anti-war critics predict at least 115 MPs will back an amendment against the government's hardline stance when Parliament gets its latest vote on the Iraq stand-off. A further 47 Liberal Democrat members are believed to have signed their own amendment expressing doubts about the pace towards war. The UK Government has made it clear that Saddam Hussein has as little as two weeks to start disarming or face the possibility of military action. As he tried to win over critics to his stance on Iraq, Mr Blair said inaction would make a future war more appalling, as well as undermining the UN. There was no "rush to war" and Saddam had been given 12 years to disarm voluntarily, he added. The chairman of the Labour Party, John Reid, said he regretted any rebellion, but said the majority of people supported the government's stance. "It is about 20% of people who are saying, in effect, we are not going to use any military action against Saddam Hussein, come what may," he told BBC Two's Newsnight. "I regret that. But I think it doesn't represent the 75% of people who say in the last instance we will be prepared to do this, especially through the United Nations." Mr Blair said he "detested" the Iraqi regime, but even now Saddam could save his government by disarming peacefully. Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said on Tuesday that there is no room for negotiation over the Al-Samoud missiles. Mr Blair predicted that Saddam would start "playing games" over the missiles. Mr Blair's stance has won support from Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith. But Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy criticised Mr Blair for his "shifting arguments" over tackling Iraq, which had left the British public "highly sceptical". Readers might remember arch-populist Kennedy from the anti The prime minister met German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and King Abdullah of Jordan on Tuesday as part of his diplomatic drive. After Mr Blair's meeting with King Abdullah a joint statement was issued by Downing Street. It said that both the UK and Jordan favour a "peaceful solution through full Iraqi disarmament" but that time was running out. Mr Blair also held talks with General Tommy Franks, head of US central military command, who is meeting defence officials in London. Posted by: Bulldog 2003-02-26 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=10661 |