Blair faces revolt over Iraq

The full Cabinet today served notice on Tony Blair that he could face open revolt if he wheels Britain into line behind American military action against Iraq.

The hostility and doubt in the Labour Party surfaced in a rare division of view at the weekly Cabinet session.

International Development Secretary Clare Short, a public critic of US action in Afghanistan, appears to be the strongest Cabinet voice hostile to strikes against Saddam Hussein.

The Prime Minister was warned he must not commit British forces without a clear political base and a clear exit plan.

The Leader of the Commons, Robin Cook, made the doubts public shortly after the Cabinet ended. Asked in the Commons whether military action against Iraq would be debated by MPs, he replied: "No decision has been taken. No decision may ever be taken."

Sources said afterwards that the lengthy Cabinet debate had been "robust", with strong views voiced by several of those involved.

The Prime Minister at the weekend left the door wide open for British backing for President Bush, saying that if action was not taken firmly and swiftly against Iraq's development of weapons of mass destruction it could be "too late".

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who opened today's Cabinet discussion, echoed Mr Blair's view but suggested that it was still possible that Saddam might bow to pressure from the UN and from nations across the world without the need for military action.

For others around the table that was clearly not good enough. One of those present said afterwards it had been "one of the more interesting Cabinet meetings".

If a revolt comes into the open it threatens serious embarrassment for Mr Blair. He is due in Washington this month for talks with President Bush, with action against the President's designated "axis of evil" high on the agenda.

Downing Street said that the Cabinet had held "a good, detailed discussion" on the issue. Asked whether there was any division, the Prime Minister's spokesman repeated: "There was a good, detailed discussion."

Mr Blair himself yesterday gave a clear hint that the US and Britain are now well on the way to another Gulf War. He told MPs: "Iraq is plainly in breach of the United Nations Security Council resolutions in relation to the accumulation of weapons of mass destruction and we have to deal with it."

Washington marked its own march towards the start of war when the Bush administration handed over satellite evidence showing that Saddam Hussein had hijacked humanitarian aid to strengthen his army.

The before-and-after photographs showed lorries entering military bases near Baghdad - and emerging as rocket launchers.

Both US and British officials in Washington appear to believe that when the President goes to war Mr Blair will have little choice but to follow him.

One British diplomat was quoted as saying: "Blair has associated himself so closely with the war on terrorism that it is too late to get cold feet now."

Mr Blair and his close aides are confident they could deal with the widely expected backbench revolt that would follow.

However, the threat of a Cabinetlevel mutiny takes the Government into uncharted and dangerous waters.

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