The abduction in Iraq of the Irish-born aid worker, Ms Margaret Hassan, was a very difficult situation but neither the British nor Irish government should "make trades with kidnappers", the former British Conservative Party leader, Mr William Hague, said in Dublin last night.
Speaking ahead of a keynote presentation to a 1,100-strong gathering of business people, he said he would not "pretend to give superior advice" to either government on how to handle kidnappings, but the British government had dealt with Mr Ken Bigley's situation in the right way.
Mr Hague, a staunch supporter of the war, who regards President George W. Bush as a close friend, urged the US-led coalition to "stick at it" in Iraq. "I think mistakes have been made in the aftermath [ of the war]," he said.
"It is a tragedy there wasn't a more comprehensive plan for the aftermath, and a better understanding for the troops that would be necessary, and the speed with which law and order would have to be re-established."
However, he said, "I still believe it was the right thing to do on the information available at the time, and I still hope it will turn out to be the right thing to do in the end." Mr Haguewas in Dublin to give a speech on "lessons of leadership" at the annual dinner of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. "I don't claim to be a world expert," he said. "Otherwise I would be running the country in Britain."
Addressing the subject of Mr Tony Blair's leadership qualities, Mr Hague said his party rival was "a natural negotiator", which was particularly useful in the context of Northern Ireland.
"I think on all sides of British politics we wish him and Bertie Ahern well. The Leeds Castle talks didn't succeed, but we hope that's not the end of that process, and I think there is a bit more optimism in London than there was a few months ago."
