Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith has raised fresh doubts about the legality of the war in Iraq.
|
|
Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith
|
He told BBC's
Today
programme this morning he could not be certain whether Britain had acted in line with a series of United Nations Security Council resolutions that were used to justify the war.
Mr Duncan Smith's remarks are significant because he fully supported the war after being briefed by Mr Blair on intelligence about Saddam's illegal weapons programmes.
The Conservative leader admitted he did not know what the deposed Iraqi leader had done with his chemical and biological arsenals. But he said: "I am absolutely certain, with his [Saddam's] track record, we had a decision to make".
He also said he was "astounded and appalled" that Commons Leader John Reid had alleged there were "rogue elements" in the intelligence services who had briefed against the government. He said there was no evidence that there were rogue elements in the intelligence services.
"My concern is that people now no longer believe that that intelligence information was gathered correctly, and that debases the ability of the intelligence services or of the armed forces to operate," he said. "I think to retain that credibility . . . an independent inquiry is necessary".
