Blair returns fire

Wednesday, 28 April 2004 12:00 AM

Tony Blair has today responded to recent criticisms of his policies - saying his strategy in Iraq is still the right one.

Speaking during prime minister's question time Mr Blair fended off questions from the leaders of both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

He asserted that the overwhelming majority of the people of Iraq are still behind the Coalition. He added that recent fighting with insurgents was taking place with the blessing of Iraqi ministers.

"It is perfectly right and proper that [the US] take action against those insurgents [in Falluja]," Mr Blair said.

Charles Kennedy, leader of the Liberal Democrats, urged the prime minister to influence the US to employ methods other than overwhelming force to deal with violence in Iraq.

Mr Blair responded: "If American soldiers are being fired on, American soldiers are going to have to fire back."

While the prime minister expressed his deep regret for civilian deaths in Falluja, he added: "It is necessary that order is restored and the Americans are trying to do that".

As Spain enacts plans to withdraw its 1,300 troops from the region, Mr Blair said that the UK had not been asked to fill the gap.

"At the present time, we believe we have sufficient troops [in the region]," he said.

After further pressure was brought on the Labour leader in the form of a letter by former diplomats, Michael Howard suggested there was "no effective plan for the post-Saddam settlement" in Iraq.

Mr Blair replied: "I believe that we made every proper planning for what happened after the toppling of Saddam".

The diplomats admonished the prime minister for blindly following George Bush's policy on Israel, branding it "one-sided and illegal"; and on Iraq, describing it as "doomed to failure".

Mr Blair is expected to respond more directly to the letter "in due course", but Mr Howard said their concerns had to be taken seriously.

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