Under-fire Blair hails troops in Iraq

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday thanked British troops in Iraq for the “magnificent” job they had done in helping to liberate the country.

However, his remarks were overshadowed by calls for a House of Commons inquiry into claims that Downing Street distorted intelligence information to make a crucial dossier on Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction more compelling.

The claims, which were rejected by Downing Street, marred Mr Blair's visit to Iraq, the first of a western leader since the fall of Saddam.