Clinton says it's time to call Saddam's bluff

WEAPONS inspectors should be sent back to Iraq, but backed by a tough new resolution from the UN Security Council, former US President Bill Clinton said yesterday.

Mr Clinton stressed the need to strengthen the United Nations and to "call Saddam Hussein's bluff" with tough new inspections demands.

In a speech lavishing praise on Tony Blair's stance on Iraq, he told Labour members in Blackpool that although the Iraqi leader posed a real threat to the world, using force against him should be a last resort.

"Saddam Hussein as usual is bobbing and weaving we should call his bluff," said Clinton.

The prime minister is set to underline the message again when he gives his monthly press conference from Blackpool today , the final day of Labour's conference.

Both Britain and the US have said they will oppose the resumption of inspection until the UN Security Council lays down some tougher rules including the threat of military action if the inspectors are unable to do their jobs.

Russia on the other hand has welcomed the deal, which it says paves the way for the inspectors' return.

Iraq's deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz responded to the US reaction by saying they were afraid of letting inspectors in because they knew they would find no illegal weapons.

The excitement surrounding Mr Clinton's visit to Blackpool was shown by a huge standing ovation from delegates before Tony Blair even had the chance to introduce his close political and personal friend.

As well as calling for a more integrated world and urging support for Mr Blair's Iraq policies, Mr Clinton extolled the virtues of the Blairite "Third Way" philosophy.

He said Northern Ireland's peace moves had brought peace to people across the world.

But it was the passages he devoted to the Iraq crisis that attracted the most attention. "Saddam Hussein as usual is bobbing and weaving," he said. "We should call his bluff.

"The UN should call for a complete and unrestricted set of inspections with a new resolution.

"If the inspections go forward, and I hope they will, perhaps we can avoid a conflict."

Inspections had done more to tackle the build-up of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq than the Gulf War, he said. "I believe we have to stay at this business until we get all those biological and chemical weapons out of there."

The west was not blameless in the problems affecting the Iraqi people, he argued, saying there had been "hardly a peep" over the gassing of the Kurds.

In a speech dominated by an internationalist message, Mr Clinton argued for action to be taken through the UN.

The former president had arrived in Blackpool on Tuesday along with film star Kevin Spacey.

At a reception hosted by Mr Blair, the Oscar winner did a series of impersonations of political figures for guests at the party.

Together with Downing Street communications director Alastair Campbell, the pair paid a visit to a McDonald's restaurant where they ate burgers and glad-handed surprised diners.