Blair denies authorising leak of Kelly name

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday denied authorising the identification of David Kelly as the source for the BBC story that Downing Street "sexed up" the dossier on Iraq's weapons.

Speaking on a flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong, Mr Blair said: "I did not authorise the leaking of the name of David Kelly."

Mr Blair was speaking as pressure mounted on his Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon over the naming of the weapons expert as the Government mole behind the allegation.