- LONDON (Reuters) - British
Prime Minister Tony Blair scrambled to rally world support on Monday for
his tough stand on Iraq as the threat of a ministerial resignation over
war rocked his government.
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- Other government ministers closed ranks around Blair
after International Development Secretary Clare Short threatened late on
Sunday to resign if Britain went to war without United Nations backing.
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- Short attacked Blair for being politically, diplomatically
and personally "reckless."
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- Blair warned of the need to show Iraq a united front
but his refusal to sack Short showed just how carefully he knows he must
tread over an issue that has sparked the worst parliamentary revolt of
his premiership and cut his popularity.
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- "He believes that nobody should be sending a mixed
signal to (Iraqi President) Saddam (Hussein) which would give Saddam the
impression that once again he can duck making his decision," Blair's
official spokesman said.
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- The spokesman said Short's comments had surprised Blair
but he refused to address the issue of Short's position in government,
saying Blair's "focus remains resolutely on getting a second resolution."
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- The move by Short -- a popular and straight-talking member
of Blair's ruling Labour Party -- could prompt other disgruntled ministers
or members of parliament to follow suit.
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- Cabinet Minister Robin Cook is known to oppose war without
a U.N. mandate, one junior government member has resigned his post over
Iraq and several more have threatened to do so.
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- Some 122 Labour MPs recently voted against Blair's stance
on Iraq, raising questions over his political future if he goes to war
without U.N. backing.
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- A recent poll showed that only 15 percent of Britons
would back war without a U.N. mandate.
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- DIPLOMATIC AFFRONT
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- Aware of the importance of a U.N. mandate, Blair rang
round world leaders again on Monday in a frantic bid to secure enough votes
for an amended second resolution authorizing war.
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- Junior Foreign Office Minister Baroness Amos headed to
Africa to woo Angola, Cameroon and Guinea -- three U.N. Security Council
members who could swing the vote.
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- Other ministers stood behind Blair in his time of need.
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- "The whole country should support Tony Blair in
his determination to secure international agreement for a second United
Nations resolution and for the disarmament of Saddam Hussein," said
Chancellor of the Excheckr (Finance Minister) Gordon Brown, who is close
to Short.
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- Two other ministers said they were "surprised"
by Short's comments.
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- Short went much further than just voicing dissent over
Iraq.
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- "I will not uphold a breach of international law
or this undermining of the U.N. and I will resign from the government,"
Short said. "The current situation is deeply reckless; reckless for
the world, reckless for the undermining of the U.N. in this disorderly
world...reckless with our government, reckless with his own future, position
and place in history."
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- Blair's pro-U.S. stance throughout the Iraq crisis has
split Europe and jeopardized Blair's ambition to be a bridge between Washington
and the 15-member EU bloc. But divisions at home could jeopardize his efforts
to win a second resolution.
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- photo credit and caption:
- Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair attends a meeting
on the NHS (National Health Service) at Number 10 Downing Street, London,
March 10, 2003. Blair scrambled to rally world support for his tough stand
on Iraq as the first public threat of a ministerial resignation over war
by International Development Secretary Clare Short shattered government
unity at home. Photo by Pool/Reuters
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- Copyright 2003 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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