Blair the 45-minute salesman, by Blix

Tony Blair acted like a cynical salesman by exaggerating the 45-minute claim, former UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix suggested yesterday.

In a withering attack on political spin, Dr Blix said: 'The intention was to dramatise it, just as the vendors of some merchandise are trying to increase and exaggerate the importance of what they have.

' From politicians, from our leaders in the West, I think we expect more than that. A bit more sincerity.'

His onslaught came as it emerged that Tory leader Michael Howard is considering tabling a Commons motion which would force Mr Blair to face MPs' questions on the issue.

The Conservatives want him to make a full statement on what he did - and did not - know about Saddam Hussein's arsenal. There was incredulity last week when the Prime Minister told MPs he had not known the 45-minute warning applied only to short-range, battlefield weapons when he led the country to war last March.

His claim was met with deep cynicism, because both Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and the then Leader of the Commons Robin Cook said they knew the warning did not apply to longerrange weapons. Mr Cook yesterday stepped up the pressure by stressing that he had told the Prime Minister Iraq had no capability to launch long-range chemical or biological weapons during a private meeting last March.

He voiced deep 'surprise' at Mr Blair's ignorance - but said if it was true, all Joint Intelligence Committee members should resign for failing to explain the evidence to the Prime Minister. As the chorus of criticism mounted, former JIC chairman Sir Paul Lever condemned the way the 45-minute warning was presented.

Asked if ministers should have been clear it applied only to battlefield weapons, he said: 'I think that was perhaps a bit of sloppy drafting, yes.'

Sir Paul added that the JIC should have been allowed to write the dossier without any interference from Number Ten.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram said yesterday: 'Today's comments from Hans Blix and Robin Cook have raised more questions than answers.

'The Prime Minister must be clear. One way or another, we will find the answers.'

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said: 'I think the Prime Minister himself has got to come back to the House of Commons and make a statement clarifying once and for all exactly who knew what, on what basis and at what time.' However, Downing Street brushed aside pressure for the Prime Minister to make a statement.

A Number Ten spokesman said: 'We dealt with all this in the debate last week and have nothing more to add.'

Mr Blair will be made more uncomfortable by the apparent attempts of President George Bush to shift some of the blame for the WMD farce on to foreign intelligence services.

In a TV interview, he defended CIA boss George Tenet and said the case for war rested in part on analysis from other countries. He did not name Britain, but the implication was clear.

He added: 'I expected to find the weapons. . . I based my decision on the best intelligence possible, intelligence that had been gathered over the years, intelligence that not only our analysts thought was valid but analysts from other countries thought was valid.'