POLITICS: Blair refuses to apologise for Iraq invasion, page 1

In a speech before his Labour Party at its annual conference, Prime Minister Tony Blair admitted that the evidence of weapons of mass destruction was wrong, but he would not apologize to leading Great Britain to war.

Linking the future security of Britain with the changes in Iraq, Blair said "democracy there (in Iraq) means security here," and that "it is worth staying the course to bring democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan". The party speech was interrupted by a protester who was escorted out of the convention. Blair further asked that his own party close ranks with him in light of the general elections that are pending next year.

BRIGHTON (AFP) - Prime Minister Tony Blair refused to apologise for the Iraq war, as he linked the future of Iraq to Britain's national security.

"I can't, sincerely at least, apologise for removing Saddam. The world is a better place with Saddam in prison, not in power," Blair told delegates to a round of applause at the annual conference of his Labour Party.

He added that "democracy there (in Iraq) means security here," and that "it is worth staying the course to bring democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan".

Blair's speech to thousands of Labour faithful was interrupted before he discussed Iraq by an anti-war protester who shouted, "You've got blood on your hands," and then was hustled by security guards out of the hall.

Telling delegates that he wanted to deal "head on" with the Iraq question, Blair admitted that evidence about Saddam's possession of weapons of mass destruction "has turned out to be wrong".

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Blair further emphasized that his personal priority was going to be reviving the Middle East peace process. This priority will go into effect in November following the United States presidential elections. While short on details on how he would accomplish this, it is noted that Britain will hold the Presidency of the Group of Eight Industrialized Nations in 2005 and thus would be able to exert influence of the peace process.