Saddam Hussein was a persistent liar who stockpiled chemical and biological weapons and had to be stopped, the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, said yesterday.
In tough, hard-line remarks in the House of Commons, shortly before leaving for a three day visit to the United States, where the Iraqi situation is expected to be high on the agenda in talks with the President, Mr Bill Clinton, Mr Blair made clear his backing for US policy on Iraq.
He detailed the weapons already found in Iraq by UN inspectors. "In the last six years they have uncovered some 38,000 chemical weapons, some 480,000 litres of live chemical warfare agents, 48 Scud missiles, 30 missile warheads and a vast biological weapons production plant that was then destroyed by the UN inspectors.
"At every single stage of the way, Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi authorities have lied and deceived people as to the existence of these weapons . . . If anything could make the case any clearer as to why it is necessary we make sure those UN inspectors carry out their work, it is that evidence."
Mr Blair continued: "It's absolutely essential we bring Saddam Hussein back into line with the United Nations resolutions under which he agreed chemical, biological and nuclear weapons would be removed and destroyed.
"This isn't a test of international virility or machismo," he insisted. "It is a genuine desire to make sure we enforce the conditions necessary for peace. If we don't stop him doing this there is every possibility he will develop these weapons of mass destruction and, on the basis of experience, use them." The two main opposition leaders, Mr William Hague of the Conservatives and Mr Paddy Ashdown of the Liberal Democrats, both gave their support to Mr Blair.