'Tough times ahead' for Iraq says Blair

In the Commons today, Prime Minister Tony Blair told MPs that there will be "tough times ahead" in Iraq but that the country is a "better place" without Saddam.

Laying out plans for peace in Iraq, the Prime Minister stressed the form of words agreed with US president George Bush in Northern Ireland last week – saying that the UN has a "vital role to play".

Mr Blair said: "Whatever the problems following Saddam's collapse - and in the short term they are bound to be serious - let no-one be in any doubt. Iraq is a better place without Saddam. This was indeed liberation not conquest and the Iraqi people, given a chance, are every bit as much in favour of freedom as people anywhere in the world.

"Our commitment now is clear. Just as we had a strategy for war, so we have a strategy for peace. Iraq will be better, better for the region, better for the world, better, above all, for the Iraqi people."

According to the government, southern Iraq is now "largely" under British control, the west is secure and in the major town of Al Qaim fighting is diminishing. In the north, said Mr Blair, Kurdish forces have retired from Kirkuk and Mosul leaving US forces in control. However, Baghdad is not yet fully under US control and attacks continue to be mounted by irregular forces. Mr Blair referred to Baghdad as the "principle" problem in the current conflict.

However, on the wider implications surrounding weapons of mass destruction, the forces on the ground have identified 146 possible sites but investigations have begun in only seven of these. Nonetheless, the government remain convinced that evidence of such weapons will emerge in the months ahead.

Mr Blair also paid tribute to the British armed services and those of other Coalition allies.

(GMcG)