'Blair must ask UN over Iraq attack'

Robin Cook emerged today as a potential leader of Labour's rebels opposed to British support for an American-led attack on Iraq.

The Commons Leader and former foreign secretary is understood to want United Nations cover for any military move against Saddam Hussein.

While he will restrict his criticism to inside the Cabinet room, it is certain to strengthen the hand of about 150 Labour MPs who have pledged their opposition to any attack.

And Downing Street was forced to deny reports that Tony Blair had turned down requests from senior ministers for an emergency Cabinet debate. A No 10 spokesman said he "did not recognise" claims in The Guardian that ministers had approached the Prime Minister privately, only to be "fobbed off " with the official line that decisions on Iraq are still a long way off.

The Prime Minister has made clear that he is sticking close to President George Bush, and that Britain will be America's strongest European ally in the event of war.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott confirmed this week that MPs are unlikely to be offered a vote on any assault before it goes ahead.

However, International Development Secretary Clare Short, who quit the Labour front bench over her opposition to the 1990 Gulf war against Iraq, is known to be sceptical about renewing the conflict.

And Chancellor Gordon Brown is said to have doubts, believing that a war in the region would plunge the world into a new recession.

Allies of Mr Cook told The Times that he believes a Western invasion of Iraq would damage hopes for peace in the Middle

East, and could spark a wider conflict. However, he will neither resign over the issue nor become a public figurehead for the revolt.

Feelings are running high on the Labour backbenches, where 150 MPs have signed a Commons motion opposing any attack on Iraq.

Anger will spill over at the Labour conference in Blackpool next month, when thousands of peace demonstrators will descend on the town to show their opposition to Mr Blair's tough line.

Inside the conference hall, party officials will fight to stop trade unions and grassroots delegates from forcing a vote on Iraq, which would be likely to result in a defeat for the Government.

The US administration stepped up its rhetoric yesterday when national security adviser Condoleezza Rice claimed there was a "very powerful moral case" for toppling the Iraqi leader.

Her remarks brought a backlash from mainstream Labour MPs. Bruce George, chairman of the Common Defence Select Committee and normally loyal to Mr Blair, said he wanted "to know more about her perception of what is moral", and added: "What I have reservations about is operating on someone's perception of morality."

He called for any attack to be carried out within international law and with the UN's blessing. Anti- war Labour MP Alice Mahon said: "Who can possibly argue that there is anything moral about killing other people's children? It is outrageous that a representative of the US government, and a woman, should suggest that there is."

Gerald Kaufman, one of Mr Blair's most loyal followers in the Commons, warned of a huge backlash from backbenchers if an American attack went ahead and it was supported by the Prime Minister.