Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=7/22/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BRITAIN / IRAQ (L-O)

NUMBER=2-305668

BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE

DATELINE=LONDON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: Can be used as alternate to Beijing-dated Blair/Howard/Iraq ///

INTRO: British Prime Minister Tony Blair has defended his decision to go to war in Iraq. He spoke as his defense minister came under scrutiny over his role in a controversy over whether the government exaggerated the threat from Iraq. V-O-A's Michael Drudge reports from London.

TEXT: With his popularity sinking amid doubts that Iraqi weapons actually threatened British interests, Prime Minister Blair on Tuesday said the war to topple Saddam Hussein was justified.

Mr. Blair is struggling to defend his government's pre-war statements that Iraq could launch weapons of mass destruction against British troops within 45 minutes. No weapons of mass destruction were used in the war, and none have been found since the March invasion.

On a tour of China Tuesday, Mr. Blair visited a Beijing university, where a student asked him if he now regrets having gone to war in Iraq.

/// BLAIR ACT ///

I have to say no, I don't regret it. I believe no matter how difficult it was, that it was the right thing to do. I also think not simply in terms of the security of the world, but in terms of the suffering of the Iraqi people, it is better that they are rid of Saddam Hussein.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Blair was also asked how he felt about the apparent suicide last week of David Kelly, a British weapons scientist who had testified to a parliamentary committee investigating whether the government exaggerated the Iraqi threat before the war.

/// 2ND BLAIR ACT ///

This is a desperately sad time for the family of Doctor Kelly. And his funeral has not been held yet, and I don't want to say more about that situation, except to say that there will be, as there should be in a democracy, a proper and independent inquiry into what has happened.

/// END ACT ///

The British Broadcasting Corporation quoted unidentified sources in May alleging that Prime Minister Blair's office overstated the Iraqi weapons threat in a dossier published last September. Blair spokesmen have vigorously denied the allegation.

Mr. Kelly said he had never accused the Blair government of exaggerating the Iraq dossier, but after his death, the B-B-C said he had been the primary source.

The Financial Times newspaper reports that Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon approved a media strategy that led to Mr. Kelly's identification as the B-B-C's source before his death.

The newspaper says Mr. Hoon could be forced to resign, if his direct involvement is proved by an independent inquiry investigating the circumstances of Mr. Kelly's death.

The defense ministry had no immediate reaction to the report, but Prime Minister Blair has denied he himself had any role in revealing Mr. Kelly's identity. (SIGNED)

NEB/MWD/KL/FC/TW