Blair to lobby UN as 'plot' to kill UK defence chief foiled

Tony Blair will embark on a propaganda and diplomatic offensive this week to ensure that the United Nations Security Council sanctions a military strike against Iraq before the Americans lose patience and go to war.

Although London and Washington lack proof that Iraq is linked to terrorism, Mr Blair's case will be helped by news that 28 Pakistanis arrested in Italy last week had a photograph of Britain's chief of defence staff, Sir Michael Boyce, in their possession.

George Bush has stated that it will be "weeks, not months" before the Iraq crisis comes to a head – implying that an invasion is to be launched in March.

Yesterday Iraq said the chief UN weapons inspector, Hans Blix, will go to Baghdad this Saturday in response to its request for a meeting, despite US scepticism about whether they will ever be allowed by the Iraqis to do their job.

Mr Blair returned from Washington yesterday sounding confident that he had persuaded Mr Bush to stick to the "UN route" to war. He told journalists: "I believe there will be a second resolution."

As part of the process of lining up the Security Council against Iraq, Downing Street has released details of the harassment and "intimidation" suffered by the 108 weapons inspectors.

More details are expected to be handed to the UN on Wednesday by the US Secretary of State Colin Powell, including transcripts of intercepted phone conversations in which Iraqi officials are heard boasting of their success in hiding material.

Mr Blair will visit France on Tuesday to try to persuade Jacques Chirac that Iraq's apparent flouting of inspections is sufficient cause for the UN to authorise the use of force.

With war seemingly only weeks away, Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan warned yesterday that "thousands" of suicide attackers will be deployed against invading US troops, and predicted attacks on troops stationed in neighbouring Arab countries.

A Mori poll published today revealed that only one third of voters polled said they were satisfied with the Prime Minister's performance.