British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Monday that Britain had to hold firm in Iraq, including tosee it through in Fallujah.

"Defeat of terrorism in Iraq is defeat for this new and virulent form of global terrorism everywhere. A democratic Iraq isthe last thing the terrorists want to see. It is precisely for that reason, because victory for the terrorists would damage security round the world including here in Britain, that we have to hold firm, be resolute and see this through, including in Fallujah," Blair told the House of Commons, lower house of the parliament.

"The action by allied and Iraqi forces underway in Fallujah would cease now, immediately, if the terrorists and insurgents whoare using Fallujah as a base for terrorism would lay down their weapons and agree to participate in the elections," Blair told thelawmakers.

Blair, the staunchest US ally on Iraq, also blamed insurgents in Iraq of not fighting a foreign occupation but democracy.

"They are fighting to stop democratic elections supervised by the United Nations and due to take place in January," Blair said. "They know that whilst Fallujah remains outside the control of theUN-endorsed government, they can use it to wreck elections."

Blair's comments came as US-led forces in Iraq have begun a full-scale attack on the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah in central Iraq.

The move, which had been expected for weeks, came after interimIraqi President Iyad Allawi gave the US and Iraqi troops the go-ahead.

Source: Xinhua