Cook breaks ranks to demand withdrawal of British troops

The ceasefire in domestic political hostilities during the war in Iraq ended abruptly yesterday when Robin Cook launched an attack on the military strategy of America and Britain.

The former leader of the Commons, who resigned from the Cabinet two weeks ago, declared in a newspaper article: "I have already had my fill of this bloody and unnecessary war. I want our troops home and I want them home before more of them are killed."

Mr Cook was forced into a partial retreat after the Government's top guns were turned against him. David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, said: "Robin resigned with great dignity, put his argument with great force. But it's hard to retain that dignity or force if you advocate capitulation after just 10 days. We have to ask everyone to answer the question: 'Who do you wish to win?"

Three hours later, Mr Cook insisted he was not calling for troops to be pulled out immediately. "I am not a supporter of abandoning the battlefield," he said. "There can be no question at this stage of letting Saddam off the hook. I was not a supporter of this war, but having started this war, it is important to win it. The worst possible outcome would be one which left Saddam there."

Supporters of the Prime Minister likened Mr Cook's "clarification" to Clare Short's threat to resign from the Cabinet, which she failed to carry out. "He is doing the hokey-cokey," said one.

But Mr Cook's withering attack on the conduct of the war spells big trouble for Tony Blair. Since Parliament approved military action, the vast majority of anti-war Labour MPs have accepted the decision because they do not want to undermine British forces.

Ministers had hoped the unofficial truce would last for at least a month. But Mr Cook's surprisingly early criticism will kickstart a debate about military strategy that Mr Blair would rather have avoided.

Parliament has been sombre and largely docile since the war began, but yesterday's intervention could mark a new phase in which MPs ask searching questions about progress on the ground – or the lack of it.

Mr Cook also inflicted damage on the Government by fuelling the suspicion that its war strategy has been blown off course -- an idea which ministers are anxious to scotch.

He said that shortly before he resigned, a Cabinet colleague told him the war would be over "long before" the council elections in May. He was also assured that Saddam Hussein would be overthrown by his associates to save their own skins soon after the war began. "It is now long past that time and Saddam is still there," he said.

Mr Cook warned that mounting a siege of Baghdad could create a humanitarian disaster. "We were promised we would be greeted as liberators, and that's not happened yet, and if we have a prolonged siege of Baghdad it's unlikely to happen when we get into Baghdad," he said.

His remarks provoked a mixed reaction among opponents of war. Doug Henderson, a former Armed Forces minister, said Mr Cook's view was shared by "very many members of the Labour Party throughout the country and a large section of the population".

Peter Kilfoyle, another former Defence minister, said that Mr Cook's comments would inspire debate. However, he added: "If you believe something is illegal and wrong at one point, it does not suddenly change because violence has broken out. But you have to strike a balance and be very careful what you say when troops are in the field."

Mr Cook denied that his move was a signal that he would mount a bid for the Labour leadership, saying he wanted Mr Blair "to continue being successful". But some Labour MPs saw his outspoken remarks as a "marker" in case the war goes so badly that Mr Blair's position is in jeopardy.

Although ministers insist that good progress has been made in the war, they are frustrated at the way the "24-hour media" is reporting the setbacks suffered by coalition forces. John Reid, the Labour Party chairman, accused the BBC of acting like "a friend of Baghdad" when he tackled Andrew Marr, the BBC's political editor, about the corporation's coverage, it was revealed yesterday.

There was better news for the Government in an ICM poll that found that 84 per cent of people want Britain and the US to see the war through to a successful conclusion, with only 11 per cent saying that they should pull out of Iraq. Mr Blair has the support of 50 per cent of people, while 39 per cent oppose his stance.