Tony Blair today rejected claims that he struck a private deal with President George Bush over Iraq 11 months before the invasion.

The 9/11 attacks on the United States changed the “calculus of risk” posed by Saddam Hussein dramatically, Tony Blair said today.

FORMER attorney general Peter Goldsmith, who approved the 2003 invasion of Iraq, had doubted the legal basis for the conflict but changed his mind after talks with officials in London and Washington.

GORDON BROWN has agreed to give evidence to the Iraq inquiry before the general election.

Gordon Brown finally bowed to intense political pressure today and agreed to appear before the Iraq Inquiry before the general election in the UK.

THE British armed forces were starved of cash in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, the official inquiry into the conflict was told yesterday.

Former British defence secretary Geoff Hoon disclosed today that he had feared the armed forces would struggle to cope with commitment of a full-scale land force to Iraq.

Former British defence secretary Geoff Hoon was facing questions about the build-up to the invasion of Iraq as he appeared before the Chilcot inquiry today.

One of Tony Blair's closest advisers will be grilled by the Iraq Inquiry today as it starts a week of evidence sessions dominated by key political figures.

Tony Blair’s former spin chief should face a fresh grilling by the Iraq Inquiry after he issued a “clarification” of his previous evidence, a senior MP said today.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband today rejected claims that senior ministers gave their tacit approval to last week’s failed plot to oust Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

BRITISH prime minister Gordon Brown rallied Labour MPs last night, declaring that the “hard- won economic recovery” would provide them with a platform for victory at the general election.

GORDON Brown’s premiership was under siege again yesterday as a former general secretary of the Labour Party stepped forward to complain that Number 10 had been reduced to a “shambles”.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown dismissed the botched coup bid as “silliness” today as he told of his determination to remain in his post.

THE attempted coup against Prime Minister Gordon Brown was the great unmentionable at yesterday morning’s cabinet meeting, where ministers went 90 minutes without uttering a single word about the plot which convulsed Westminster earlier this week.

AN attempt to oust British Prime Minister Gordon Brown ran out of steam after two ex-Cabinet plotters failed to win support from ministers, but analysts said Brown’s authority had been shaken.

Gordon Brown today brushed off the latest attempt to oust him as British prime minister as “a storm in a teacup”.

BRITISH Prime Minister Gordon Brown fought to quell a challenge to his leadership yesterday from two senior figures in his Labour Party, but the rebellion exposed a badly divided party months before a national election that polls predict Labour will lose.

AS GORDON Brown was getting the better of David Cameron at prime minister’s questions, the television news channels flashed up the breaking news that two former cabinet ministers were demanding a secret ballot on whether he should remain as Labour leader.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was today facing the prospect of a dramatic challenge to his leadership after two former Cabinet ministers issued a call for the issue to be resolved "once and for all".

The president of the European Commission threw his hat into the ring for a second term in office today – and national government lobbying for top jobs in his new team has already begun.

BRITISH Prime Minister Gordon Brown clung fiercely to his job last night, defying calls from some within his beleaguered Labour party to resign.

Britain's Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has resigned from the Cabinet.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was today facing a fight for his political life after James Purnell dramatically quit the cabinet and urged him to stand down for the good of the Labour Party.

Gordon Brown was forced to defend two more of his Cabinet ministers today as the expenses scandal showed little sign of abating.

Hundreds of activists opposed to a third runway at Heathrow today staged a “flash mob” protest at the UK airport's Terminal Five.

The British government has flown in the face of strong opposition by backing a third runway at Heathrow airport.

The UK government is expected to give the go-ahead today to a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Efforts are continuing today to secure the release of 15 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines seized by Iranian patrol boats off the coast of Iraq.

The European Commission has threatened Turkey with the possible suspension of membership talks unless it does more to protect human rights and implements a customs pact with EU member Cyprus.

Spain and Britain were today due to sign a historic agreement resolving disagreements stemming from their 300-year-old dispute over Gibraltar while leaving the thorny issue of sovereignty untouched.

Ministers were today holding emergency talks on the explosions.

The nationalist SDLP were today accused of blocking moves for a special House of Commons committee to have sittings in Northern Ireland.

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled his cabinet last night, changing leadership in defence, health and the House of Commons, and putting his government back in business after a third-term victory that was dampened by a reduced majority.

Downing Street tonight refused to comment on reports that John Reid has been appointed Defence Secretary in Tony Blair’s Cabinet reshuffle.

Tony Blair has won a record third term in Downing Street today – but saw Labour’s majority slashed by nearly 100.

A CAR BOMB exploded in an upmarket shopping district of Baghdad yesterday, killing at least six Iraqis and setting fire to an apartment building, in a surge of violence that has left at least 130 people dead since a new government was formed last week.

Aerospace and defence group BAE Systems today denied it had any plans to sell its stake in European aircraft giant Airbus.

Omar Sinan, Baghdad

British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon today announced 400 extra British troops will be sent to southern Iraq to boost security ahead of elections in the country scheduled for January 30.

THE family of an Iraqi civilian allegedly unlawfully killed by British troops while in custody won a “historic” human rights ruling yesterday which opens the way for an independent investigation into his death.

British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon arrived in the southern Iraqi city of Basra today for talks with Iraqi and British officials.

BRITAIN yesterday said it will respond soon to a US request to send troops to more dangerous areas of Iraq, a politically charged issue that has revived anger over Prime Minister Tony Blair’s support for the war.

Britain has received a request from the United States for help from UK troops in Iraq - and the British Chief of the Defence Staff is expected to recommend whether to comply by the middle of this week, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced today.