Capture sends shockwaves around the world

The capture of Saddam Hussein will send military and political shockwaves around the world’s capitals.

The huge boost it gives the US-led coalition forces in Iraq is a massive shot in the arm for the political prospects of both President George Bush and his staunchest international ally, Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The prospect of months, even years, of a cat and mouse chase in pursuit of the dictator, following the failure in Afghanistan to capture Osama Bin Laden, had been haunting the White House and Downing Street.

The arrest of Saddam, without a shot being fired, and the pictures of his unkempt appearance and poky hideaway could lead to a dramatic reduction in, at least, attacks against coalition forces and their allies being carried out by members of the former Ba‘athist regime.

That, in turn, could speed the handover of civil power and military control to the Iraqis themselves, allowing more US troops to come home next year - presidential election year in America.

The detention of Saddam may now embolden some of his former henchmen to reveal the crucial details of what, if any, weapons of mass destruction Iraq possessed and explain his defiance of the international community.

Resolving that issue is more important for Mr Blair than Mr Bush, with the Hutton Inquiry report into the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly due to be published next month, rekindling the whole issue of whether the premier misled the country into war.

With Saddam now captured, and presumably betrayed, the coalition has been seen to accomplish one of its most important war aims following its lightning occupation of Iraq.

That will be taken by the Pentagon and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as a complete justification of their tactics.

Labour MPs who opposed the war will still press their case that it was the issue of international legitimacy which made them question the war.

But with the power due to be handed over to the Iraqis next year and Saddam now facing a humiliating trial, widespread opposition to the war may well diminish and public opinion will continue to swing behind it.

Even Germany and France, which so memorably and bitterly opposed the war, have had to concede that the detention of Saddam is good news for the people of Iraq and the wider world.

Mr Blair and Mr Bush will be careful to appear measured and avoid open triumphalism in discussing Saddam’s seizure.

But there is no doubt they will be hugely relieved that their controversial stance has paid off in one way at least.