Blair under pressure on Iraq

Blair and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney discussed Iraq on Monday

LONDON, England -- Tony Blair has become used to jetting round the world helping to pull together the anti-terrorist coalition.

Up to now it has not worried him that some have been labelling him America's ambassador at large, and that not everybody back home wants him to go all the way with President George W. Bush.

But now, with party grumbles mounting and stories of splits among ministers, two veteran MPs from his own Labour Party came to Downing Street Monday to urge him not to join U.S. action against Iraq.

Labour MP Alice Mahon said: "We're appealing to the Prime Minister to use his influence as someone who got the coalition together against terrorism to say military action is the last thing we should be thinking about in Iraq. It would blow the coalition apart."

Labour MP Tam Dalyell said: "There are 71 MPs who have signed a critical motion.

"If you go to the constituencies, Labour parties and their meetings, they have been saying to their MPs: 'Look, if you go any further on this in backing Blair and the Americans in an optional war we're not going to work for you.'"

Blair, who was earlier playing host to U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, used to say there should be no action against Iraq without a proven link between Saddam Hussein and the events of September 11.

But now he has a different emphasis.

"You'll have heard me say on many, many occasions no decisions have been taken on how we deal with this threat," he said.

"But that there is a threat from Saddam Hussein and the weapons of mass destruction that he has acquired is not in any doubt at all. So what is important obviously is that we reflect and consider and deliberate."

The way he is now emphasizing the need to deal with weapons of mass destruction suggests Blair will back U.S. military action against Iraq.

But by doing so he is going against UK public opinion and risking a clash with the bulk of his MPs, and with other European leaders.

He will be looking for time to swing some support.