Britain: British prime minister Tony Blair maintained Labour's opposition to the death penalty yesterday when pressed to say whether or not former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein should be executed.
"We are against the death penalty whether it's for Saddam or anyone else," Mr Blair finally asserted, after first insisting foreign secretary Margaret Beckett had already stated his government's position, and then adding there were "bigger issues" still to face in Iraq.
The prime minister's eventual affirmation of Labour's policy came after tetchy exchanges during a Downing Street press conference which also saw Mr Blair maintain silence on the question of Gordon Brown as his presumed successor - and whether his attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, should play any part in deciding if anyone should be charged in connection with the "cash for peerages" police inquiry.
Mr Blair said it would not be appropriate to comment when asked if, in principle, the attorney should withdraw from considering cases in which he knew someone who might be charged with an offence.
"I've just got nothing to say on this," insisted Mr Blair, despite growing controversy over a potential conflict of interest for the attorney in handling a case that could lead to the prosecution of both Labour and Conservative figures. Mr Blair also declined to answer when asked if he had yet made arrangements to be interviewed by police, amid reports that his chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, is likely to be questioned under caution later this month.
The attorney general has reportedly refused to stand down despite opposition suggestions that he would be better to "recuse" (disqualify) himself from the case and leave the Crown Prosecution Service to seek advice from senior independent counsel. Director of public prosecutions Ken MacDonald has already removed himself from handling the case because he is a former colleague of the prime minister's wife, Cherie Blair.
The Guardian yesterday reported that Ian Blair, the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police who has had a close working relationship with the prime minister, has likewise excluded himself from making any key decisions to ensure his officers could be seen to conduct their inquiry without any appearance of a conflict of interest.
With the "cash for peerages" affair again threatening a dark cloud over Mr Blair's final period in office, yesterday's press conference also carried a reminder that media interest in the succession battle is unlikely to be kept at bay much beyond the New Year.
Following widespread reports last week that the chancellor is now unlikely to face a heavyweight Blairite challenge, Mr Blair was asked if he was now satisfied that Gordon Brown would succeed him. But the prime minister refused to play, insisting: "I've said I'll speak on this at the appropriate time, and I will."
He remained bullish, however, when defending his policy in Iraq and Afghanistan and in carrying the battle to the Conservatives over his proposed ID cards - which he suggested were more an issue about "modern life" than about civil liberties.