London: Asserting that intelligence has established links between individuals in
Iraq and Osama bin Laden's terror network, British Prime Minister Tony Blair on
January 21 warned it was "inevitable" that al-Qaida terrorists would try to attack
the UK.
"I think it's inevitable that they (al-Qaida) will try in some form or other and I
think we can see evidence from the recent arrests that the terrorist network is
here, as it is around the rest of the world," Blair told the House of Commons
Liaison Committee.
"I think it's important we do everything we can to show people the link between
weapons of mass destruction and these terrorist groups," the Prime Minister said.
He said, "Intelligence showed links between al-Qaida and people in Iraq, but not
directly with the Iraqi government."
There was also no evidence of links between Iraq and terror cells in the UK, Blair
said.
Asked about a Guardian/ICM poll suggesting shrinking public support for possible war
against Iraq, he said, "I totally understand why public opinion is sceptical."
But Blair said he was confident any military action would come in circumstances
people would find "acceptable and satisfactory because there is no other route
available to us."
The twice-yearly grilling from the House of Commons Liaison Committee came as
preparations got underway to send another 30,000 UK troops to the Gulf. The Liaison
Committee – made up of the chairmen of influential House of Commons select
committees – was putting the Prime Minister on the spot for only the second time.
Blair said there was evidence that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and his immediate
entourage were becoming "rattled" by the mounting pressure.
"There is no way out for Saddam Hussein out of this issue other than disarming Iraq
of weapons of mass destruction," he said.
Failure to disarm Iraq would send the wrong signal to North Korea over nuclear
weapons, he argued.
As Blair completed the two-and-a-half hour session, anti-war campaigners were
travelling to Westminster to put their views.
PTI
