Blair defends Bush plan for attack on Saddam

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Leading article: Mr Bush's 'first friend' should warn him against going to war with Iraq

Tony Blair has defended President George Bush's plans to destroy the weapons of mass destruction built up by Iraq and denied the United States was isolated on the issue.

The Prime Minister continued his drive to prepare British public and political opinion for possible military action against Saddam Hussein's regime by giving his strongest support yet for Washington. He told Channel 9 TV yesterday during his visit to Australia for the Commonwealth summit: "George Bush is absolutely right to say weapons of mass destruction are a real danger in the world."

Mr Blair said he would discuss the precise action to be taken over Iraq with the President when he visits Washington in a few weeks. In another sign that action is imminent, Downing Street said the Prime Minister wanted to discuss the issue face-to-face rather than in one of his regular telephone conversations with Mr Bush.

Although some European countries have severe doubts about taking on Iraq, Mr Blair insisted it was not just America which was determined to act. He recalled that he had outlined the need to tackle chemical, biological and nuclear weapons two days after the 11 September terrorist attacks.

"It is clear that we need to deal with this issue," he said yesterday. "Iraq is in breach of all the United Nations resolutions on weapons inspectors.

"If these weapons fall into their [Iraqi and terrorist] hands ­ and we know they have both the capability and the intention to use them ­ then, I think, we have got to act on it because, if we don't act, we will find out too late the potential for destruction."

Iraq's most influential newspaper called Mr Blair "a liar" for accusing Iraq of acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Babel, the newspaper of President Saddam's eldest son, Uday, claimed in a front-page editorial that Mr Blair had refused to accept an Iraqi challenge to send in a team of British arms inspectors.

Meanwhile, the British Government is resisting plans for the first mission by the European Union's new rapid reaction force to be in Macedonia, where Nato's operation is due to end in June.

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, has told Downing Street in a leaked letter that there is "growing pressure" for the EU to take over Nato's work and that the "political case" for British troops being involved would be "strong".

But Geoff Hoon, the Secretary of State for Defence, has warned Number 10 that an EU-led operation would be "premature" and wrong and would risk stability in the Balkans. The EU force was "not ready to undertake an operation of this magnitude and risk", he said.

Downing Street denied the Cabinet was split, pointing out that Mr Straw agreed there were "strong arguments" against an EU force and that Britain should persist with its effort to build support for a continued Nato mission.