Saddam will be dealt with, says Blair

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Saddam will be dealt with, says Blair

Tensions rise as Iraq rejects the return of UN inspectors

Leading article: Honesty is a better policy than uncritical support for the United States

Tony Blair today said there was no doubt that Saddam Hussein posed a threat but insisted the international coalition against terrorism would take action against Iraq in a "calm and measured way".

Speaking after Downing Street talks with The US Vice President Dick Cheney on the six-month anniversary of September 11, Mr Blair said no decisions had been taken on how to proceed in the wider campaign against terrorism.

But he added: "There is a threat from Saddam Hussein and the weapons of mass destruction that he has acquired. It is not in doubt at all."

Mr Blair paid tribute to President Bush's leadership, adding: "The coalition that we have assembled has acted in a calm and a measured way and this will continue.

"We have also said again right from the outset that the threat of weapons of mass destruction will have to be addressed ...

"No decisions of course have been taken yet on how we proceed, but this is a time when we discuss how important it is that the issue of weapons of mass destruction is properly dealt with."

Mr Cheney said Washington was concerned about the "potential marriage" between terrorist organisations like al Qaida and states which were acquiring weapons of mass destruction.