Blair boasts of influence over Bush to disarm his party's doves
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Your support makes all the difference.Tony Blair trumpeted his personal influence over George Bush yesterday as he sought to head off a Labour Party rebellion over his hawkish stance on Iraq.
As the Prime Minister launched a frantic round of diplomacy before his meeting with President Bush at Camp David on Friday, his left-wing critics warned him at a private meeting of Labour's ruling national executive committee that he was making "the biggest mistake" he had ever made by preparing for war.
Mr Blair replied that he had persuaded the US President to "take the United Nations route". He offered his critics a stark choice, saying Britain could "either be in this or outside it altogether, in which case we would have no influence whatsoever".
The Prime Minister warned it was only a matter of time before terrorist groups obtained weapons of mass destruction. He said that, despite the deep reservations expressed by France and Germany, there were other EU countries which shared Britain's view on Iraq.
The meeting blocked a motion saying that war in Iraq was "not justified" and calling for a "diplomatic and political solution". It approved by 22 votes to 4 a policy statement backing military action "in the last resort" and the Prime Minister's "preference" for a fresh UN resolution.
Mr Blair held a 15-minute telephone conversation yesterday with John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister, a strong supporter of the US over Iraq. Downing Street said: "They both agreed on the need for full Iraqi compliance with all their obligations set out in UN resolution 1441 and previous resolutions." He also spoke to Abdullah Gul, the Turkish Prime Minister, and Costas Simitis, the Prime Minister of Greece, which holds the EU's rotating presidency.
Mr Blair was due to speak last night to Jacques Chirac, the French President, whom he will meet at an Anglo-French summit in Le Touquet next Tuesday. Today Mr Blair will meet Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, who will be en route to Washington for his own talks with President Bush. Mr Blair will fly to Madrid on his way to Washington for talks with Jose Maria Aznar, his Spanish counterpart.
Mr Bush is holding parallel talks. After consultation with the prime ministers of Spain and the Netherlands on Monday, Mr Bush sees Mr Berlusconi later this week before the Camp David summit with Mr Blair. All four European leaders back an attack on Iraq if Saddam Hussein continues to refuse to disarm.
Downing Street admitted that EU countries had "different views" on Iraq. It said there would be "an intensification of diplomatic activity" following Monday's progress report to the UN by Hans Blix, its chief weapons inspector, which would continue until his next scheduled report on 14 February.
Mr Blair's official spokesman said: "Saddam still has the opportunity to avoid being disarmed by force but the patience of the international community is not infinite. The choice is still Saddam's, but it is not going to be his choice for ever."
He said the Prime Minister had found Mr Blix's report "deeply disturbing".
Man of straw? ten questions UK says Saddam must answer
Will Iraq prove it has destroyed stocks of VX nerve gas or co-operate with its destruction?
Iraq has admitted producing 3,900 litres of VX, but says it never managed to weaponise the agent, a claim questioned by Hans Blix. Iraq claimed its experiments were abandoned and stocks destroyed.
Will Iraq account for all of its chemical bombs and rockets?
Blix says Iraqi documents revealed 13,000 bombs were dropped during the Iran-Iraq war – 6,500 fewer than the Iraqis declared. The "missing" bombs could contain 1,000 tons of chemical agent. Empty chemical warheads found in a new bunker near Baghdad could be the "tip of a submerged iceberg".
Will Iraq prove it has destroyed anthrax stocks or co-operate in their destruction?
Iraq says it destroyed its entire 8,500-litre stock of anthrax after the Gulf War. Blix says it may have produced more than admitted and that some may have been kept after the declared destruction date.
Will Iraq explain why it has a chemical used in the production of mustard gas?
Blix said his inspectors discovered a "laboratory quantity" of Thiodiglycol, used to make the deadly gas, at one site.
Will Iraq account for the extended range of its missiles?
Iraq says its Scud missiles were used up in the Gulf War. It says other missiles being developed will have a range less than 150km, the maximum allowed by the UN. Blix says two new missile systems could break the rules by having the capability to fire much greater distances.
Will Iraq co-operate with substantive inquiries by the inspectors?
Blix says Iraq is co-operating with the inspections by allowing access. But similar help with the "substance" of the inspection team's work would be "indispensable".
Will Iraq produce all hidden documents?
Blix says that the discovery of 3,000 pages of nuclear-related documents in an Iraqi scientist's home may not be an "isolated" case.
Will Iraq actively provide interviews with scientists?
Blix has asked to speak to 11 scientists, who have only agreed to interviews in the presence of an Iraqi official. The Iraqis have agreed to encourage private interviews, but none has yet taken place.
Will Iraq stop harassment of inspectors?
Blix says there have been "some disturbing incidents" of attempted interference with their work.
Nigel Morris
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