London: In an obvious rebuff to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the leader of the House of Commons Robin Cook on March 17 night quit from the Cabinet as the build-up to war with Iraq gathered pace.

The decision by Cook, who had earlier held the key portfolio as Foreign Secretary, came as the Cabinet held an emergency meeting in Downing Street.

Cook had taken a firm stand that he would put in his papers if Britain went ahead with the war against Iraq without a clear mandate from the United Nations.

The UK, US and Spain have effectively abandoned their efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the standoff.

They are not putting their draft resolution to a vote in the United Nations Security Council -- citing French intransigence.

As he left the government ranks, Cook, who saw Blair before the Cabinet, said, "It is with regret I have today resigned from the Cabinet.

"I can't accept collective responsibility for the decision to commit Britain now to military action in Iraq without international agreement or domestic support."

There had been speculation that International Development Secretary Clare Short, who has already threatened to resign, might follow Cook onto the back-benches.

Cook is the first ministerial exit over Iraq policy, and a major blow to Tony Blair as he faces a growing rebellion within his own party.

The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, on March 18 said legal authority for war against Iraq came from three previous UN resolutions.

PTI