Straw presses case against Iraq

Ministers now know the extent of Labour divisions

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said he believes the United Nations Security Council can resolve its differences on Iraq after Labour's conference backed ministers' stand on the crisis.

The new resolution needed to give Saddam a choice between "coming quietly and having the full force of the international community, military force, against him", said Mr Straw on Tuesday.

Tony Blair is likely to continue his persuasion campaign on Iraq when he makes his conference speech on Tuesday afternoon.

That comes after Labour's divisions on the issue were revealed as delegates at Blackpool rejected a motion opposing any form of military action by 59.8% to 40.2%.

A second motion backing the government position - that military action must comply with international law and be used as a last resort - was agreed on a show of hands.

Grass-roots backing

Mr Straw acknowledged the debate had been heated and dismissed suggestions that anti-war speakers had not been given a fair hearing.

Grass roots members had voted by more than two-to-one in favour of keeping force as a last resort (there was a tighter divide among the unions).

That reflected opinion in the general public, suggested Mr Straw.

Straw believes the Security Council can resolve its differences

Talks continue as over a new Security Council resolution.

France particularly wants two resolutions, with the first not directly authorising the possible use of force.

Mr Straw said the US and UK had not ruled out having two resolutions but the first had to give Iraq a clear choice.

The foreign secretary said that without a new resolution, it was possible to act within international law.

He wanted as tough a resolution as possible.

"Because we believe this man is of such a nature that he only understands when posed with a choice between coming quietly and having the full force of the international community, military force, against him," he added.

That was an argument Mr Straw extolled in Monday's passionate debate on the conference floor.

'Shameful' stance

Both he and Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon warned against repeating the mistakes of appeasing Hitler in the 1930s.

But Labour delegates lined up to criticise the government's position on Iraq.

Halifax MP Alice Mahon said US President George Bush was intent on going to war.

This will be the first war about oil

Alice Mahon
Anti-war MP

"I think it's a disgrace that our government appears to be the only one in the western world that appears ready to back him," said Ms Mahon.

The MP said if there was a war it would not be about weapons of mass destruction.

"It will be the first war about oil," she said to cheers from delegates.

Eileen Sinclair, of Cunninghame South, said she was "ashamed" of Labour's foreign policy.

"The Iraqi people themselves with the pressure of the world behind them must depose Saddam Hussein - not us with bombs," she said.

But Brian Seymour-Smith, of Birmingham Northfield, said the government's stance should be backed and that Labour needed to show itself as "a party of realism and courage".

"Sanctions are clearly not working and containment is being flouted. It is time to act through the UN," said Mr Seymour-Smith.

Aid promise

Earlier, International Development Secretary Clare Short said the UK must "redouble efforts" to ensure Iraq follows UN resolutions.

Ms Short, who is said to be sceptical about military action against Iraq, said no one should welcome "drumbeat of war".

She continued: "We must therefore redouble our efforts to ensure that Iraq abides by UN resolutions and that this time its weapons of mass destruction are destroyed and removed."

She said that if Iraq met UN demands and sanctions were lifted, the UK was ready to mount a "strong and immediate" effort to aid Iraq.

Like other ministers, Ms Short also stressed the importance of renewing efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East.