I won't go to Iraq, Amos says

Baroness Amos, the new Secretary of State for International Development, was criticised yesterday for cancelling a planned trip to Iraq because it was too dangerous.

American diplomatic sources said her decision sent the "wrong signal" about the state of law and order in Iraq.

Baroness Amos said in a newspaper interview: "The safety and security situation, which we really need to get right to enable us to really go for the reconstruction effort, is slightly hampering things".

Her remarks appeared to support her predecessor, Clare Short, who blamed poor planning for post-war looting and violence.