Blair Wins Parliament Backing on Iraq

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, March 19, 2003

Blair Wins Parliament Backing on Iraq

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British Prime Minister Tony Blair won his case for war with Iraq late on Tuesday after rebels in his ruling Labour Party failed to push through Parliament a motion condemning his policy as rash and hasty.

After the rebel vote failed, Mr Blair got another boost from a second vote in the House of Commons that strongly backed the government's decision to use 'all means necessary' to ensure that Iraq was stripped of weapons of mass destruction.

In Tuesday's second vote, legislators voted 412 to 149 to approve the government's resolution supporting the use of 'all means necessary' to ensure Iraq's disarmament. The opposition Conservatives backed the prime minister.

Following Tuesday's defeat, Labour rebels said it was now time to unite behind their leader and heal the divisions within the party. Once war begins, public opinion is expected to swing sharply in the government's favour because of the some 40,000 British troops that will be involved.

The British leader is gambling that a quick, successful war will sway public opinion and vindicate his stand. But a long, bloody war could reopen the rifts in Labour over his leadership.

For now, though, Mr Blair appears safe with a free hand to conduct the war alongside President George W. Bush.

Source: Agencies

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