Blair denies Iraq weapons claims

Mr Campbell has gone on the attack against the BBC

Prime Minister Tony Blair has repeated his insistence that claims Downing Street "sexed-up" a dossier about Iraq's illegal weapons are "completely and totally inaccurate".

Mr Blair was responding to Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy's call for the prime minister to give evidence to the Commons foreign affairs committee's inquiry into the use of intelligence material in the run-up to conflict.

The inquiry was partially sparked by a BBC report quoting a security service source saying that a dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction had effectively exaggerated the threat from Saddam Hussein.

Mr Blair told MPs at prime minister's questions that the allegation Downing Street had inserted a claim into the dossier that weapons of mass destruction could be used within 45 minutes was "completely and totally inaccurate".

He insisted there was no difference in the evidence given by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Number 10 press chief Alastair Campbell to the MPs' inquiry.

Mr Kennedy had highlighted the fact that while Mr Campbell had said the 45 minute claim had been in all drafts of the dossier, Mr Straw had said it was only included for the first time in September.

Inquiries

Mr Blair said this apparent discrepancy had been clarified, saying that the 45 minute claim was in the first draft presented by the Joint Intelligence Committee.

Mr Blair refused to answer Mr Kennedy's call to appear in front of the committee himself.

He said: "In relation to the foreign affairs committee, they will make their report. There is then the intelligence and security committee, they will make their report."

Mr Blair urged Mr Kennedy to produce any evidence he had to support the claim that Downing Street had inserted the 45 minute claim into the intelligence dossier.

Mr Kennedy said: "You are aware of the fact that the elected, accountable, foreign secretary gave one version of events and an unelected member of staff in your office gave a different set of events.

"Isn't the best way to clarify this, for once and for all, for you to go to that committee and spell out exactly what happened?"

Evidence

Mr Blair insisted again: "It has been clarified. In relation to the foreign affairs committee, they will make their report. There is then the intelligence and security committee. They will make their report. They have been given the fullest possible cooperation by the Government.

"But I repeat. The claim is that contrary to the advice and insistence of the security services, the 45-minute claim was inserted into the dossier last September. That is completely untrue.

"If anyone has any evidence, let them produce it. But I think before a claim of that seriousness is made at least some evidence should be produced."

Earlier, Lib Dem Annette Brooke asked: "What progress is being made in the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?"

Report due

Mr Blair told her: "The search for weapons of mass destruction, the evidence of the programmes, is being carried out by the Iraq Survey Group. That is some 1,200 strong and it began its work a short time ago.

"They will be able to investigate all the sites, interview all the witnesses and experts. We've already made clear that the findings should be publicly available."

The BBC has refused to apologise for its report that a senior intelligence official had said last September's Iraq dossier was "sexed up" at Downing Street's request.

Mr Campbell has demanded an apology from the BBC over the claims, which he says are a "lie".

The House of Commons foreign affairs select committee is investigating the government's use of intelligence material in the build-up to the Iraq war, and will report on Monday 7 July.