Straw withdraws 45-minute claim

THE British Government yesterday formally withdrew its controversial claim that Iraq had chemical and biological weapons capable of being deployed within 45 minutes.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw disclosed that a further line of intelligence reporting on Iraqi production of biological weapons agents before the war had also now been withdrawn by MI6 Chief John Scarlett.

Mr Straw’s statement means that the Secret Intelligence Service has now had to withdraw three of its main lines of intelligence reporting on Iraq’s weapons prior to the war.