Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=10/25/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BRITAIN / BLAIR (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-319886

BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE

DATELINE=LONDON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: Blair Says Insurgents Aim to Torpedo Iraqi Election

INTRO: British Prime Minister Tony Blair says Iraq faces a crucial showdown with militants who he says are out to sabotage elections planned for January. The prime minister discussed the issue at a London news conference, as we hear from VOA's Michael Drudge.

TEXT: Prime Minister Blair says a successful election in Iraq will deliver a heavy blow to the insurgents who continue to attack coalition and Iraqi security forces.

///BLAIR ACT///

"If we do manage to get elections going forward in Iraq in January, what are these people going to say then? They're not protesting against foreign troops in Iraq. If they wanted to take their protest against foreign troops, they could take it to the electorate in January. What they are actually trying to do is to stop those elections going ahead. And why is that? Because they know that in any situation where Iraqis are free to chose their government, they're not going to choose either former Saddam people or a gang of foreign terrorists to run their country. They actually want it run by the Iraqi people."

///END ACT///

Mr. Blair says the U.S.-led coalition is making some territorial gains against the insurgents despite the ongoing violence. He spoke as an 850-member British combat battalion prepares to deploy near Baghdad to free up U.S. Marines for a possible assault on the rebel stronghold of Fallujah.

The prime minister also repeated his desire to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process next month, after the U.S. presidential election, saying Britain's own security will be strengthened if that conflict is resolved.

Mr. Blair also addressed the impasse with Iran over its nuclear program. He said dialogue with Tehran has not been exhausted, but Iran needs to understand it must not develop nuclear weapons.

The major European Union countries -- Britain, France and Germany -- have offered to help Iran with nuclear technology if it gives up plans to enrich uranium, a key element for making a nuclear bomb. Iran has called the proposal unacceptable and unbalanced.

Diplomats from the four countries plan more talks on the issue in Vienna on Wednesday. (Signed).

NEB/MWD/AWP/FC