Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4/22/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BRITAIN/BLAIR (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-315265

BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE

DATELINE=LONDON

INTRO: Britain says Iraq's transition to democracy faces a crucial test because of increased terrorist attacks, and London is pushing for the United Nations to lead the way toward creation of a new Iraqi government. V-O-A's Michael Drudge has more from London.

TEXT: British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he wants a new U-N mandate in Iraq before the scheduled June 30th handover of sovereignty to a provisional Iraqi government.

/// BLAIR ACT ///

The United Nations is the body that has the international legitimacy to be able to certify and help guide the process of political transition.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Blair says the anti-coalition militants in Iraq are fighting to prevent a successful transfer of power from the U-S-led occupation authority.

/// BLAIR 2nd ACT ///

This is an extraordinary and crucial moment in Iraq's development, which is why so much fighting and terrorism is going on to stop it. If we can construct a political process that has legitimacy in Iraq, that is a transition towards a democratic Iraq at the end of 2005, that would be a huge thing.

/// END ACT ///

The prime minister said he discussed U-N security concerns last week in a meeting with U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan, who is reluctant to send large numbers of personnel back to Iraq after two deadly bombings last year at the U-N headquarters in Baghdad.

Mr. Blair said those attacks, and others, like the series of suicide bombings Wednesday in the British-controlled southern sector of Iraq, should not deter Iraq's reconstruction.

/// BLAIR 3rd ACT ///

We can not allow people who are prepared to blow up and kill U-N workers to determine what the international community does. These people who committed these atrocities in Basra or south of Basra yesterday, I mean, these are evil, barbaric people who should not have a stranglehold over the future of Iraq.

/// END ACT ///

Earlier, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said consensus is emerging on the U-N Security Council to pass a new resolution, possibly next month, establishing procedures for the transfer of sovereignty.

Mr. Straw also said British troops could remain in Iraq for at least two more years and he could not rule out an increase in the size of the British force, which now numbers about 87-hundred troops. (SIGNED)

NEB/MWD/ALW/KBK/RAE