Ex-envoy attacks Blair over Iraq

Sir Jeremy is a former British ambassador to the UN

Tony Blair's former special representative in Iraq, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, has attacked the prime minister's handling of the conflict.

Sir Jeremy, also former UK ambassador to the UN, said Mr Blair had "taken his eye off the ball".

The prime minister was "tearing his hair" over the pace of change in Iraq, Sir Jeremy said in BBC Two's Blair: The Inside Story.

Mr Blair robustly defended his handling of Iraq in a Today programme interview.

He told the BBC: "I don't think we should be apologising because we're not causing the terrorism."

He felt that we would go through a dark period Sir Jeremy Greenstock Blair defiant on Iraq

But Sir Jeremy said Mr Blair "didn't focus enough on the means of delivering what he wanted".

He said: "He wanted a new police force up and running within months, but he felt that we would go through a dark period, we would have some difficulties but it would break out and come right, and people around the prime minister are very conscious of this sense of right judgement, of mission.

"He didn't quite concentrate enough on the instruments for delivering the final result that was needed in Iraq, and that's perhaps where he took his eye off the ball."

Blair: The Inside Story is broadcast on BBC Two at 2100 on Tuesday 27 February.