Blair Says Time Not Yet Right for Military Action Against Iraq

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, April 11, 2002

Blair Says Time Not Yet Right for Military Action Against Iraq

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Wednesday the time was not yet right for military action against Iraq.

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British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Wednesday the time was not yet right for military action against Iraq.

In a weekly speech to the House of Commons, Blair was asked whether he had promised United States President George W. Bush that Britain would support for a U.S. attack on Iraq during a weekend visit to Bush.

"The time for military action has not yet arisen," Blair replied.

"However, there is no doubt at all that the development of weapons of mass destruction by (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein poses a severe threat not just to the region but to the wider world," he said.

"There is no doubt whatever that the world would be a better place without Saddam," he said. "However, the method of doing this,...is something that is open to consultation and deliberation," Blair added.

President Bush had warned several times that he would attack Iraq because Iraq is accused to be supporting international terrorists.

It is widely expected that Britain would strongly support the United States if President Bush decided to launch a military strike against Iraq.

But a number of cabinet ministers in Blair's government had repeatedly argued that Britain should not join in the strikes on Saddam Hussein when there is no indication that Iraq has supportedinternational terrorism.

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