Unionists back war with Iraq

At last night's crucial Commons vote over whether to give assent to the use of military force against, the Ulster Unionist Party pledged its support for the government's position.

During Tuesday night's emergency debate in the House of Commons, Mr Trimble said the Prime Minister had now been left with "no alternative".

Yesterday, backbench MPs tabled an amendment to the government's motion – stating that the case for war with Iraq had not yet been established and that UN weapons inspectors should be allowed more time to continue their work.

The vote that followed saw 139 Labour MPs rebel against the government – representing one of the biggest backbench rebellions in living memory. Despite Labour backbench opposition – rising from last month's total of 121 MPs – the Commons voted 396 to 217 to support Prime Minister Blair's stance.

The Ulster Unionist's six MPs backed the Prime Minister whilst the SDLP's South Down representative Eddie McGrady voted against.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Trimble said France was solely responsible for "destroying the credible threat of force" which underpinned diplomatic efforts. He added that the US could not be expected to "humiliate themselves" by bowing to such pressure.

Although the consequences of war were "unknowable and unpredictable", Mr Trimble said there was "not much of a choice" over what action should follow.

In the debate in the Lords, Unionist peer Lord Maginnis of Drumglass said: "Leadership, not equivocation, in the struggle to protect the weak and vulnerable is what has been ordained for our nation, and I am proud to associate myself with that position.

"I am not a warmonger - war is and should be the last resort. But I do believe in moral obligations and that war may be the only way to avert greater wars, greater aggression and greater oppression.

"My Lords, my concluding thoughts and my prayers must be for our soldiers and their anxious families. I wish our armed services God speed and a safe and speedy return."

(GMcG)