Pressure mounts on Blair over Iraq weapons claims

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair was last night under severe pressure to make a statement to the House of Commons to answer claims that the Government exaggerated the threat posed by Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.

As days of political pressure take their toll on Mr Blair following the controversy of the Iraqi arms dossier, it emerged aUS Senate committee is to hold hearings this month about why banned weapons have not been found yet in Iraq.

As Downing Street attempted to quell the growing political storm by indicating a parliamentary committee was already looking at the issue, Iain Duncan Smith said the allegations risked undermining the credibility of Britain’s intelligence services.