WMD claim of 45 minutes dramatised, says Blix

THE 45-minute Iraq weapons claim was deliberately used to "dramatise" the Iraqi arms dossier, former chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said yesterday.

Those who drafted it acted like salesmen trying to "increase and exaggerate the importance" of their wares, Dr Blix said. But he insisted he was not accusing British Prime Minister Tony Blair of acting in "bad faith".

"From politicians, from our leaders in the West, I think we expect more than that. A bit more sincerity," he said.