Blair says Hussein is a 'real and unique threat'

Saddam Hussein represents a "real and unique threat" to the Middle East and the wider world, Prime Minister Tony Blair warned today.

Mr Blair told a press conference in his Sedgefield constituency that the Iraqi leader was continuing his efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction in defiance of United Nations resolutions.

The Prime Minister told journalists that how that threat should be dealt with had yet to be decided - but the issue did have to be addressed.

He added that a dossie documenting the evidence ahainst Hussein would be released in the next few weeks.

Mr Blair declared: "I do believe that the threat posed by the current Iraqi regime is real, I believe that it is in the UK's national interest that the issue is addressed, just as dealing with the terrorists after September 11 was in our national interest even though the actual terrorist act took place thousands of miles away on the streets of New York, not in London."

He underlined his determination that Britain should stand squarely with US President George Bush over the issue.

"This isn't just an issue for the US, it is an issue for Britain, it is an issue for the wider world. America shouldn't have to face this issue alone, we should face it together," he said.

In his first substantial comments on Iraq for a month, Mr Blair told reporters that he believed it would be a good idea for the Government to publish its data on Saddam's programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction in the next few weeks.

Asked why the dossier of evidence had still not been published, Mr Blairreplied: "Whatever timelines we've been working on as leaders, if you like, itis clear that the debate has moved on.

"Now originally I had the intention that we wouldn't get round to publishing the dossier until we had actually taken the key decisions, but I think probably it's a better idea to bring that forward."

He added: "A lot of the work has already been done. There needs to be some more work and some more checking done, but I think probably the best thing to do is publish that within the next few weeks."

"I think that when that happens people will see that there is no doubt at all, the United Nations resolutions that he stands in breach of are there for a purpose."

Saddam Hussein was "without any question" still trying to develop Iraq's chemical, biological and potentially nuclear capability. To allow him to do so without any hindrance would be "irresponsible."Mr Blair said there was "constant dialogue and discussion" between London andWashington about the issue.

"Where we are in absolute agreement is that Iraq poses a real and a unique threat to the security of the region and the rest of the world. That Saddam Hussein is continuing in his efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction, that means a biological, chemical and nuclear weapons capability. That he is in breach of UN resolutions and that confronted with this reality we have to face up to it and deal with it.

"How we deal with it, as I have said to you on many occasions, is under discussion. But that we have to do it is not in doubt. We have to face up to it, we have to deal with it, and we will. The issue is then what is the best way of proceeding."

Mr Blair said: "I would never support anything I thought was wrong out of someblind loyalty to the US."

The premier said a lot of criticism against the US was "just straightforward anti-Americanism".

"The reason why I supported the United States of America after September 11 was because it was the right thing to do.

"The whole of the international community has a responsibility to deal with it.

"You would think with the debate going on in the last few weeks it was somehow us who were in breach of the United Nations resolutions and Saddam who was the one being compliant.

"For a long period of time we have done our best to contain that threat, but it is increasingly difficult to do it without inspectors being back in there with a proper regime on the ground ...

"The Americans in raising this issue are not wrong, they are right, and the reason why our place is beside them in addressing this issue is not because of some misplaced allegiance or because of blind loyalty, it's because it's the right thing to do."