Blair faces tough questions on support for US tactics in Iraq

British Prime Minister Tony Blair was put on the spot Wednesday in parliament by opposition parties questioning his support for US tactics in Iraq.

Hours before, the US military launched new air strikes on some positions in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, a stronghold of Iraqi insurgents.

The US attack amounted to the "murder or mutilation of hundreds of women and children," the opposition Conservative Party member of parliament Peter Tapsell asserted during a prime minister question and answer session at the House of Commons.

"Does the prime minister support the murder or mutilation of hundreds of women and children in Fallujah as an appropriate response to the savage murder of four American contractors?" Tapsell questioned.

Blair, the staunchest US ally on Iraq, defended the US tactics saying US troops had every right to take action against former regime loyalists and terrorists in the city.

"There is a situation in Fallujah where we have a large number of very well-armed former regime elements, and probably some outside terrorists as well...and it is right that the American forces try to make sure that order is restored to that city," Blair told the lawmakers.

Charles Kennedy, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, also pressed Blair on the issue, asking why the prime minister failed to use his influence on the US to find alternatives to the policy of "overwhelming" use of force to deal with violence in Iraq.

Earlier, Blair received criticism from 52 former diplomats over his support for US Mideast policy.

In a letter jointly signed by the diplomats, including ambassadors, high commissioners and governors, Blair was urged on Monday to start influencing America's "doomed" policy in the Middle East or stop backing it.

The diplomats said there was "no effective plan for the post-Saddam settlement" and expressed their concern over the loss of lives during the US-led war against Iraq.

They also attacked US President George W. Bush for endorsing Israel's plan to retain some settlements in the West Bank and criticized Blair's public support for the policy which they believe is "one-sided and illegal" and will "cost yet more Israeli and Palestinian blood."

Responding to the criticism, Blair answered that "we have a very clear political and military strategy. The political strategy is to make sure that there is a transition to a democratic Iraqi government."

"The military strategy is equally clear. It is to make sure that we can achieve sufficient security in Iraq for that political process to work," Blair said.

Britain currently has 7,500 troops deployed in southern Iraq.

Source: Xinhua