LONDON, Sept 11: A damning parliamentary report released on Thursday criticized a key British case for invasion of Iraq and revealed that spy chiefs had warned Prime Minister Tony Blair an invasion would only increase the risk posed by terrorists.

The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) said a now infamous claim that Iraq could deploy chemical and biological weapons within 45 minutes was “unhelpful” because it did not make clear it referred only to short-range battlefield munitions.

The 45-minute claim was the most dramatic element of a Sept 2002 dossier that Mr Blair used to counter intense public opposition to Britain joining the US-led invasion.

In a report issued on the second anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks, the committee also said intelligence officials had warned Mr Blair that invading Iraq would increase the risk of militants obtaining chemical or biological weapons.

Undermining a main U.S. argument for toppling Saddam Hussein, they had predicted “any collapse of the Iraqi regime would increase the risk of chemical and biological warfare technology or agents finding their way into the hands of terrorists”.

The warning was delivered on Feb 10, five weeks before the launch of the invasion. In response, Mr Blair told the committee the danger of inaction was greater.

The committee’s criticism could further undermine trust in Tony Blair, whose poll ratings have slumped since the occupation of Iraq. But it cleared the government of claims it had “sexed up” the dossier, declaring it honestly reflected assessments at the time.

It directed most questions at the intelligence officials who “continued to assess that Saddam had the firm intention to use chemical and biological weapons in the event of a conflict”.

“It is a matter of record that no chemical or biological weapons were used,” the committee said.

The committee’s investigation ran in parallel to a judicial inquiry into the suicide of a British weapons expert who was exposed as the source for claims the dossier was “sexed up”.

Judge Lord Hutton’s inquiry has already revealed that at least two Defence Intelligence staff were unhappy with warnings in the dossier. The committee said intelligence chiefs did not know for sure what weapons Iraq had made or in what quantities.

“This uncertainty should have been highlighted to give a balanced view of Saddam’s chemical and biological capacity,” it said.

Thursday’s report also exonerated Mr Blair’s outgoing communications chief. “The dossier was not sexed up by Alastair Campbell, or anyone else,” it said.

“Don’t look for any deep conspiracy because we couldn’t find one — and we did look,” said Labour MP Kevin Barron.

GOVERNING COUNCIL: Iraq’s provisional Governing Council supports a greater political role for the United Nations in Iraq, council member Adnan Pachachi said on Thursday.

But he declined to take sides in the tussle between the United States on the one hand, and France, Russia and China on the other, warning all sides had to agree on the next steps and they should not determine Iraq’s future “expeditiously”.

Speaking to journalists after a meeting here with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Mr Pachachi also endorsed a continued US security role in Iraq.

“The Governing Council would like that Iraq take charge of its own affairs as soon as possible, and any resolution that will advance this and make it happen sooner or later would be endorsed by the Council,” Pachachi said, laying claim to an important role for Iraqis in determining their future.

Mr Annan and foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council are due to meet here on Saturday to discuss proposals for Iraq’s future, including the content of a Security Council resolution put forward by Washington.

“I think probably greater UN involvement will give greater legitimacy to the whole situation and would be more acceptable to Iraqis,” Pachachi said.

“The Coalition Authority will certainly play a part in maintaining law and order until the Iraqi police force and army are able to do the job themselves,” he added.

France, Russia, backed by China, have proposed a greater role for the United Nations in managing the transition to Iraqi sovereignty, while maintaining US command over security.

Mr Pachachi said he hoped to discuss the plans with each of the ministers while they were in Geneva after reviewing the UN’s “past, present and future” with Annan.

He emphasised that the United Nations had a “crucial role” to play in setting up Iraq’s sovereign insitutions, including an assembly, elections and the country’s laws, on top of its humanitarian role.

The Governing Council hoped to have a draft constitution drawn up by April or May 2004, which should be endorsed by a referendum, and then be followed by elections in June or July, according to Pachachi.

The Iraqi official also commented that the US had probably worsened the country’s security situation by disbanding the Iraqi army.

“I think it was a mistake, it was a measure that was hastily done,” he said, pointing out that the council hoped to reorganise the army swiftly to patrol the country’s borders and stop incursions. —Reuters/AFP