Blair: Saddam's rule is 'history'

Saddam seemed docile on a videotape after capture

The capture of Saddam Hussein has shown the Iraqi people that his rule is "now indeed history", Tony Blair told MPs.

He paid tribute to American coalition forces and the intelligence services who brought about Saddam's capture.

He said he was confident the Iraqi people would be able to mount a fair trial of Saddam Hussein.

The UK is to send a further battalion of troops and two platoons of military police to Iraq next month to help train the country's security forces.

Weapons secrets

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said there was little hope of Saddam Hussein coming clean about his weapons of mass destruction programmes.

Interrogation of the deposed Iraqi leader is underway but Mr Straw told a media conference: "I'm not holding my breath for any confession statement."

The UK opposes the death penalty but Mr Straw said whichever court tried the ex-leader would decide punishments.

The celebrations ... all over Iraq, show once and for all how delighted the Iraqi people are that Saddam's rule is now indeed history Tony Blair Blair statement in full Hoon sends more soldiers to Iraq

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told MPs that the capture was "a brilliant coalition effort by both military and intelligence forces on the ground in Iraq".

He said he hoped that those Iraqis who had backed Saddam "will end that support" and recognise the efforts being made to rebuild the country.

"I think we have to recognise that there will still be some elements who will continue the campaign against coalition forces - they have to be defeated," he said.

Truth

To help train Iraqi security forces, he had decided to send the First Battalion, the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders and two platoons of the Royal Military Police, drawn from 101 and 156 Provost Companies to Iraq in January for six months, he said.

In a House of Commons statement, Mr Blair told praised Iraqis who helped in the capture of Saddam and were working in the nation's police and defence forces to build a new Iraq.

"The celebrations on the streets of Baghdad, Basra and all over Iraq, show once and for all how delighted the Iraqi people are that Saddam's rule is now indeed history," he said.

Saddam had been living in a tiny underground hole

A "great deal" had been achieved in Iraq, with its people enjoying freedom of speech and religion for the first time in decades.

More than 17,000 reconstruction projects were underway, oil production has risen to 320,000 barrels a day, with the proceeds benefiting Iraqis rather than stolen as they were under Saddam's rule.

There was a new currency, clean water and the electricity supply has surpassed pre-conflict levels, he said.

Hopes

But after two car bombs exploded in the Baghdad area on Monday, killing eight people, Mr Blair said "vigilance, dedication and determination" was still needed to deal with terrorists and Saddam sympathisers.

He added: "The hope of a new Iraq is now clear and evident to all and the final victory will be there's - the Iraqi people's."

Time Magazine, quoting an unidentified US intelligence official in Iraq, has reported that Saddam Hussein has denied he had possessed weapons of mass destruction when the war began.

But Mr Straw said he was not worried by anything the deposed leader might say.

We are very, very happy...we are going to celebrate with fireworks Nadir Ahmad Iraqi in Manchester UK Iraqis call for trial

"I would be surprised if any questioning of Saddam Hussein produces any useful information, but that remains to be seen," he said.

"His record of telling the truth is a very poor one."

The foreign secretary said it was likely the Iraqis would want their former leader tried in his own country.

But he underlined the UK's opposition to the death penalty being one of the possible punishments.

But he said: "In the end, the appropriateness of a punishment is a matter for sovereign governments and for the court."

Loyalists fears

While ex-Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic is being tried by an international tribunal, Downing Street says Saddam Hussein's crimes were against the Iraqi people and they should conduct his trial.

To some extent it shows how ludicrous the whole project was in the first place Stop the War coalition Warning by campaigners

Ali Albayati, the London leader of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq said: "Saddam will have to take what he deserves... he should be tried."

Conservative leader Michael Howard said Saddam Hussein's capture was "truly excellent news" and hoped it would bring real peace closer.

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said Saddam Hussein had to answer for his crimes.

But he warned: "It must be remembered in the euphoria following his capture that his loyalists remain a fanatical band who may not give up their struggle immediately despite his capture."