Blair: 'Keep up pressure on Iraq'

Blair: "We have got to keep up the pressure to make sure the weapons inspectors actually go in"

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LONDON, England -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair has urged the international community to "keep up the pressure" on Saddam Hussein to ensure that U.N. weapons inspectors go back into Iraq.

Speaking on Wednesday -- as U.S. President George W. Bush said the Iraqi offer to allow the inspectors' return "wouldn't fool anybody" -- Blair said: "It's the pressure that has brought (Hussein) to this position.

"We have got to keep up the pressure to make sure the weapons inspectors actually go in.

"Not just that he says they can go in, but they actually go in and that they can do their job.

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"Those are still the obligations that Iraq has got to fulfil, and we have got to keep up the pressure and make sure they do it."

Blair said that it was only threats of military action by the U.S. -- backed by Britain -- that had forced Hussein to concede the return of inspectors after four years.

He said: "Nobody should be in any doubt. This is not because Saddam wants to let the inspectors back in.

"He has played around for years. The U.N. had to break off negotiations in July because he wasn't co-operating."

Blair, who has promised to unveil details of a dossier of evidence he says exists to show that Iraq has been amassing weapons of mass destruction, has been a staunch supporter of Washington's tough line on Iraqi.

Earlier this month he said Hussein was an "international outlaw" in charge of a "barbaric regime" that had to be dealt with. (Full story)

But he has faced mounting calls from opposition Conservatives and his own ruling Labour Party to give parliament an opportunity to discuss the crisis.

As a result, the British parliament has been recalled from its summer recess for an emergency one-day debate on September 24. (Full story)

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